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.

Reset

Towns most like Meraux, LA 70075

Meraux: median income $73,067, home value $232,600, $140/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ash Grove, MO 65604 97%552$68,683$198,200$161 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Alexandria, AL 36250 93%356$83,406$211,600$140 Very close on everything we compare
Fair Grove, MO 65648 91%546$86,850$247,200$152 Very close on everything we compare
Van, TX 75790 91%383$65,039$173,900$133 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Blakeslee, PA 18610 90%1,113$67,656$239,100$180 Very close on everything we compare
Gadsden, AL 35905 90%361$67,042$195,600$133 cheaper homes ($37K less)
West Columbia, TX 77486 90%350$74,857$240,200$137 Very close on everything we compare
Lexington, AL 35648 89%377$79,500$172,600$148 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
New Market, AL 35761 89%398$79,440$237,000$156 larger
Raymond, MS 39154 89%160$72,783$221,300$143 larger
Monrovia, IN 46157 89%694$86,250$234,100$172 Very close on everything we compare
Russellville, MO 65074 89%609$74,464$178,800$128 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Benton, KS 67017 89%681$88,750$259,400$150 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Cheney, KS 67025 89%697$86,840$205,100$127 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Jefferson, ME 04348 88%1,489$78,929$286,300$226 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Catawba, NC 28609 88%650$77,679$245,900$190 Very close on everything we compare
Zebulon, GA 30295 88%396$81,667$279,200$180 pricier homes ($47K more)
Pleasant Grove, AL 35127 88%300$70,317$226,400$117 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Saint Louisville, OH 43071 88%827$78,824$222,900$128 smaller
Clayton, IN 46118 88%700$78,298$276,900$166 pricier homes ($44K more) · older homes
Sunman, IN 47041 88%699$81,016$287,400$179 pricier homes ($55K more) · older residents
Perry, MI 48872 88%944$79,333$236,700$160 older residents
Riverside, IA 52327 88%803$86,942$298,800$146 pricier homes ($66K more)
Cashton, WI 54619 88%955$71,463$230,200$149 Very close on everything we compare
West Fork, AR 72774 88%482$76,316$225,700$184 5 min shorter 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.