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 Gulfport, MS 39501

Gulfport: median income $34,758, home value $121,800, $92/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lafayette, LA 70501 93%174$33,365$116,900$79 Very close on everything we compare
Albany, GA 31701 92%304$35,025$94,800$76 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Pontiac, MI 48342 92%906$35,253$101,300$99 older homes
Waycross, GA 31501 90%404$37,314$113,600$106 smaller · more homeowners
Henderson, NC 27536 89%741$39,985$131,000$112 Very close on everything we compare
Albany, GA 31705 87%308$42,972$102,900$91 Very close on everything we compare
Fayetteville, NC 28301 86%676$39,198$122,400$146 Very close on everything we compare
Macon, GA 31204 86%361$38,784$135,300$89 older homes
Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 86%479$38,695$122,200$99 smaller
Brunswick, GA 31520 85%455$40,071$147,500$155 pricier homes ($26K more)
Fort Smith, AR 72901 85%462$42,851$118,100$113 older homes
Douglas, GA 31533 84%378$42,802$123,100$80 younger residents
Valdosta, GA 31601 84%344$36,111$142,200$141 younger residents
High Point, NC 27260 83%652$42,308$128,100$162 Very close on everything we compare
Forrest City, AR 72335 83%334$40,400$95,400$69 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Lawton, OK 73501 83%613$49,741$133,000$119 Very close on everything we compare
Kinston, NC 28501 82%748$35,118$79,000$82 cheaper homes ($43K less) · 6 min longer commute
Jackson, TN 38301 82%362$43,227$132,900$128 Very close on everything we compare
Tallulah, LA 71282 82%183$35,244$97,400$73 smaller · more single-family homes
Rocky Mount, NC 27801 81%759$44,884$115,400$109 Very close on everything we compare
Wilson, NC 27893 81%744$42,810$158,600$155 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Middlesboro, KY 40965 81%530$28,685$95,200$128 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Youngstown, OH 44505 81%880$37,538$93,000$87 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older homes
Pontiac, MI 48340 81%907$47,891$119,900$116 Very close on everything we compare
West Memphis, AR 72301 81%335$42,859$120,100$115 more walkable

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.