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 Stringer, MS 39481

Stringer: median income $61,458, home value $166,300, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fruithurst, AL 36262 97%259$68,611$155,600— Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, AR 72157 96%303$62,931$140,300— cheaper homes ($26K less)
Gary, TX 75643 96%300$59,342$142,000$166 Very close on everything we compare
Blackstock, SC 29014 95%507$62,422$187,300$97 Very close on everything we compare
Warrensville, NC 28693 94%544$62,596$171,800$228 Very close on everything we compare
Bigelow, AR 72016 94%291$64,280$172,400$196 larger
Greenbush, ME 04418 93%1,435$60,500$135,100$208 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Cedar Grove, TN 38321 93%280$56,474$157,900$196 larger · older residents
Big Cabin, OK 74332 93%470$60,781$167,500$212 Very close on everything we compare
Rose, OK 74364 93%444$63,542$171,300$233 Very close on everything we compare
Apple Springs, TX 75926 93%339$65,833$130,400— cheaper homes ($36K less)
Malta, OH 43758 92%678$61,397$152,900$134 larger
Lafitte, LA 70067 92%155$63,125$212,300$133 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Anacoco, LA 71403 92%247$67,929$158,800$130 larger
Waco, KY 40385 91%500$63,103$194,700$155 pricier homes ($28K more)
Adolphus, KY 42120 91%375$64,958$178,500$190 larger
Cub Run, KY 42729 91%419$54,706$189,200$196 Very close on everything we compare
Pedro, OH 45659 91%600$59,844$125,100$78 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Leasburg, MO 65535 91%447$56,660$139,500$173 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Long Lane, MO 65590 91%448$56,762$191,700$384 pricier homes ($25K more)
Damascus, AR 72039 91%303$63,667$178,900$157 older residents
Agra, OK 74824 91%519$64,063$168,500$155 younger residents
Murchison, TX 75778 91%383$57,589$154,900$204 larger
Elm Mott, TX 76640 91%461$66,641$166,900$149 larger
Saxe, VA 23967 90%699$73,264$117,500— cheaper homes ($49K less)

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.