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 Cape Girardeau, MO 63703

Cape Girardeau: median income $38,695, home value $122,200, $99/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pascagoula, MS 39581 87%483$37,927$153,100$91 pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Gulfport, MS 39501 86%479$34,758$121,800$92 larger
Waycross, GA 31501 83%586$37,314$113,600$106 larger · more single-family homes
Fort Smith, AR 72901 83%303$42,851$118,100$113 larger · younger residents
Albany, GA 31701 82%500$35,025$94,800$76 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Truth Or Consequences, NM 87901 82%1,040$34,242$128,700$118 older residents · more homeowners
Brunswick, GA 31520 81%623$40,071$147,500$155 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Evansville, IN 47710 80%117$47,292$147,300$125 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Fayetteville, NC 28301 78%612$39,198$122,400$146 larger · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Albany, GA 31707 78%498$50,862$133,900$98 larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Jackson, MS 39206 78%343$42,686$117,400$65 larger · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Pontiac, MI 48342 78%495$35,253$101,300$99 larger · 7 min longer commute
Henderson, NC 27536 77%618$39,985$131,000$112 larger · 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Americus, GA 31709 77%472$41,531$139,800$74 larger · younger residents
Jackson, MI 49202 77%437$42,632$116,100$122 larger · more homeowners · older homes
Syracuse, NY 13205 76%807$38,497$99,000$73 larger · more walkable · older homes
Middlesboro, KY 40965 76%323$28,685$95,200$128 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Paintsville, KY 41240 76%370$38,041$148,000$106 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Lawton, OK 73501 76%529$49,741$133,000$119 larger · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Savannah, GA 31408 75%594$45,839$169,700$159 pricier homes ($48K more) · 7 min longer commute
Greenville, MS 38701 75%285$40,854$127,300$92 larger · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Corpus Christi, TX 78408 75%802$41,045$88,400$93 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 6 min longer commute · more walkable
Rantoul, IL 61866 74%220$50,686$121,300$112 larger · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Muskogee, OK 74401 74%350$42,294$149,300$110 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Nacogdoches, TX 75961 74%488$41,495$141,200— larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute

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.