OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Mc Lain, MS 39456

Mc Lain: median income $41,818, home value $83,400, $37/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Varney, WV 25696 86%593$48,077$109,400— pricier homes ($26K more) · more renters
Zavalla, TX 75980 86%331$45,439$94,500— larger · older residents
Attapulgus, GA 39815 85%257$45,800$59,800— larger
Garrison, KY 41141 85%607$36,508$87,500— larger
Palestine, AR 72372 85%295$43,611$90,300— larger · 6 min shorter commute
Tohatchi, NM 87325 85%1,189$36,800$71,000— larger
Melville, LA 71353 84%178$37,405$118,300— pricier homes ($35K more)
Norway, SC 29113 83%478$48,857$84,200— larger · more apartments and townhomes
Gueydan, LA 70542 83%234$41,971$93,500— larger · older residents
Kermit, WV 25674 82%594$38,495$101,900— larger · 6 min shorter commute
Haworth, OK 74740 82%388$41,141$99,700— larger · more renters
Cameron, AZ 86020 82%1,347$35,909$51,500— cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Vanderwagen, NM 87326 82%1,185$34,773$62,300— larger
Pineland, TX 75968 80%306$53,355$89,100— larger · 6 min shorter commute
Pueblo Of Acoma, NM 87034 80%1,118$48,795$82,500— larger · 6 min shorter commute
Clinchco, VA 24226 79%558$54,191$81,300— larger · younger residents · more renters
Orlando, KY 40460 79%506$35,417$69,000— younger residents · 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Bradford, AR 72020 79%339$49,231$95,300— larger
Java, VA 24565 78%679$41,683$148,800— pricier homes ($65K more)
Autaugaville, AL 36003 78%155$42,554$145,700— pricier homes ($62K more) · larger
Midway, AL 36053 78%204$49,357$104,200— larger · 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Simmesport, LA 71369 78%179$36,856$107,600— larger · more renters
Hurley, VA 24620 77%583$30,129$69,000— larger · more apartments and townhomes
Plymouth, IL 62367 77%650$58,000$126,700— pricier homes ($43K more)
Dodson, LA 71422 77%238$36,111$108,500— pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · younger residents

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.