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 Luling, LA 70070

Luling: median income $76,539, home value $273,800, $172/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sparta, MI 49345 96%950$85,463$274,200$203 Very close on everything we compare
Osceola, IN 46561 94%846$91,711$230,600$170 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Vicksburg, MI 49097 94%885$88,208$239,500$164 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Moore, SC 29369 93%594$82,924$263,300$161 newer homes
Headland, AL 36345 93%315$71,453$200,800$152 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Ellettsville, IN 47429 93%679$92,378$246,800$179 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Galesburg, MI 49053 93%898$85,909$242,700$195 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Paw Paw, MI 49079 93%886$73,333$234,400$165 cheaper homes ($39K less)
New Haven, MO 63068 93%600$79,632$226,300$161 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Marshfield, MO 65706 93%532$74,830$234,700$169 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Greencastle, PA 17225 92%986$88,457$304,100$171 pricier homes ($30K more)
Mc Leansville, NC 27301 92%752$83,824$264,100$156 newer homes
West Columbia, SC 29170 92%608$74,902$212,800$153 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Roebuck, SC 29376 92%598$70,645$234,200$158 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Gadsden, AL 35907 92%374$76,390$227,200$162 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Knoxville, TN 37924 92%568$80,112$251,200$200 Very close on everything we compare
Orient, OH 43146 92%795$81,191$322,200$208 pricier homes ($48K more)
Ottawa, OH 45875 92%844$93,144$229,800$160 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Columbia City, IN 46725 92%823$79,526$228,900$173 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Saint Clair, MI 48079 92%992$79,891$293,000$179 older residents
Plainwell, MI 49080 92%905$74,864$258,300$195 Very close on everything we compare
Muskegon, MI 49445 92%951$84,877$232,200$204 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Casper, WY 82604 92%1,256$79,118$288,900$170 larger
Ontario, NY 14519 91%1,167$85,532$234,600$209 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Rocky Face, GA 30740 91%456$79,671$242,600$168 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 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.