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 Charleston, MO 63834

Charleston: median income $41,348, home value $114,000, $67/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hugo, OK 74743 95%402$41,722$134,200$71 larger
Springhill, LA 71075 94%358$40,246$100,800$81 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Gehee, AR 71654 91%255$41,645$97,300$68 younger residents
Norton, VA 24273 90%370$41,978$109,300$89 Very close on everything we compare
Aliceville, AL 35442 90%271$44,503$139,000$66 pricier homes ($25K more) · 6 min longer commute
Rolling Fork, MS 39159 90%293$45,995$110,700$71 smaller
Trumann, AR 72472 90%115$40,529$113,500$97 larger
Dumas, AR 71639 88%242$37,173$85,700$44 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Piggott, AR 72454 88%60$46,509$107,600$80 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Rae Helena, GA 31055 87%496$45,885$143,100$94 pricier homes ($29K more)
Greenville, MS 38703 87%261$44,291$85,700$64 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Harlan, KY 40831 87%331$35,404$89,100$68 Very close on everything we compare
Anna, IL 62906 87%38$41,993$145,400$86 pricier homes ($31K more) · more homeowners
Mansfield, LA 71052 87%420$38,509$109,400$68 larger · more homeowners
Crossett, AR 71635 87%301$47,148$98,100$76 larger · more homeowners
Falfurrias, TX 78355 87%845$48,828$82,400$75 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Sophia, WV 25921 86%447$35,451$105,800$62 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Fordyce, AR 71742 86%276$38,843$98,200$67 more homeowners
Walnut Ridge, AR 72476 86%108$42,181$96,500$97 Very close on everything we compare
Monroeville, AL 36460 85%390$41,008$126,500$90 larger
Fulton, KY 42041 85%36$36,045$105,900$87 younger residents
Tallulah, LA 71282 85%325$35,244$97,400$73 larger · younger residents
Alexandria, LA 71302 85%429$34,669$110,000$56 larger · younger residents
Stuttgart, AR 72160 85%209$50,403$153,500$72 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Forrest City, AR 72335 85%155$40,400$95,400$69 larger

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.