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 Magnolia, MS 39652

Magnolia: median income $42,966, home value $84,400, $105/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Whitesburg, KY 41858 96%602$45,933$90,400$110 Very close on everything we compare
Pound, VA 24279 94%611$43,602$97,300$110 smaller
North, SC 29112 94%576$50,195$91,700$109 smaller
Eubank, KY 42567 93%541$46,526$105,000$113 Very close on everything we compare
Quinton, AL 35130 92%264$40,690$90,400$112 smaller
Vanceburg, KY 41179 92%652$39,217$95,400$108 Very close on everything we compare
Reform, AL 35481 91%213$45,207$84,000$98 smaller
Inez, KY 41224 91%650$38,816$92,900— smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Haysi, VA 24256 90%630$48,788$104,100$113 smaller
Millen, GA 30442 90%512$43,624$92,100$125 7 min shorter commute
Twin City, GA 30471 90%497$42,236$75,800$98 smaller · more renters
Cordova, AL 35550 90%265$42,216$91,900$119 smaller · more renters
Altoona, AL 35952 90%322$48,361$117,500$124 pricier homes ($33K more)
Newton, TX 75966 90%195$40,087$102,900$107 Very close on everything we compare
San Augustine, TX 75972 90%217$44,196$96,300— Very close on everything we compare
Mathis, TX 78368 90%488$46,486$95,300$137 Very close on everything we compare
Clayton, AL 36016 89%301$41,131$76,700$114 smaller
Sandy Hook, KY 41171 89%641$42,609$110,100$143 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Elkhorn City, KY 41522 89%629$37,331$90,600$104 smaller · older residents
Gueydan, LA 70542 89%144$41,971$93,500— smaller
Hamburg, AR 71646 89%163$40,823$89,700$78 Very close on everything we compare
Rembert, SC 29128 88%617$43,571$100,200$151 smaller
Bonifay, FL 32425 88%285$46,667$123,600$127 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Carbon Hill, AL 35549 88%258$47,818$67,400$118 smaller · older residents
Oakman, AL 35579 88%254$46,968$110,800$86 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller

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.