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 Rolla, MO 65401

Rolla: median income $56,081, home value $222,800, $138/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Murray, KY 42071 96%211$50,198$190,300$151 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Lafayette, LA 70506 95%535$57,379$218,000$135 Very close on everything we compare
Tahlequah, OK 74464 94%227$51,262$174,000$143 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Durant, OK 74701 94%375$58,036$206,600$155 Very close on everything we compare
Fayetteville, NC 28303 93%737$58,223$189,500$142 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Valdosta, GA 31602 93%684$56,939$217,300$132 Very close on everything we compare
Martin, TN 38237 93%195$51,670$200,900$138 smaller
Monroe, LA 71203 93%373$52,326$185,100$132 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 5 min longer commute
Alexandria, LA 71303 93%461$67,156$244,200$143 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Smith, AR 72903 93%231$61,434$235,900$125 Very close on everything we compare
Alamosa, CO 81101 93%772$54,844$240,400$183 smaller
Natchitoches, LA 71457 92%434$46,668$197,000$134 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Nacogdoches, TX 75965 92%460$55,291$244,500$151 smaller
Lubbock, TX 79416 92%644$63,896$213,700$147 Very close on everything we compare
Greenwood, SC 29649 91%594$54,585$235,100$168 Very close on everything we compare
Dalton, GA 30720 91%436$69,369$249,800$146 pricier homes ($27K more)
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 91%408$62,301$234,000$154 larger · 5 min longer commute
Johnson City, TN 37604 91%529$52,345$259,600$196 pricier homes ($37K more)
Tupelo, MS 38801 91%306$62,946$197,100$141 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Las Cruces, NM 88005 91%933$54,452$220,800$168 Very close on everything we compare
Goldsboro, NC 27534 90%787$62,574$208,000$160 older residents · 5 min longer commute
Columbus, GA 31909 90%537$69,166$221,300$149 Very close on everything we compare
Searcy, AR 72143 90%187$58,344$181,300$140 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Laredo, TX 78041 90%846$61,544$221,300$152 Very close on everything we compare
Radford, VA 24141 89%616$62,969$236,400$163 smaller · 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.