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 Gibson, LA 70356

Gibson: median income $32,756, home value $175,600, $166/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Maynard, AR 72444 88%468$32,276$152,800— Very close on everything we compare
Leslie, AR 72645 85%436$33,516$116,200$170 cheaper homes ($59K less) · 6 min longer commute
Shacklefords, VA 23156 84%983$36,179$196,700$209 older residents
Kelso, TN 37348 84%459$39,542$266,200$202 pricier homes ($91K more)
Bolton, MS 39041 83%190$41,137$174,600— larger
Meadow Bridge, WV 25976 82%812$41,169$126,100$148 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Theodosia, MO 65761 82%488$43,000$170,000$189 Very close on everything we compare
Round O, SC 29474 80%654$40,781$143,100$237 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Keysville, GA 30816 80%572$44,559$145,400$106 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Thorn Hill, TN 37881 80%640$37,443$111,900$160 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 6 min longer commute
Columbia, NC 27925 79%957$41,522$161,100$123 larger · younger residents
Cope, SC 29038 79%643$43,563$157,700$134 larger · younger residents
Surgoinsville, TN 37873 79%666$44,390$178,900$168 larger
Damascus, VA 24236 78%717$28,983$139,300$221 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Big Clifty, KY 42712 78%610$45,870$147,400$175 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Patriot, IN 47038 78%725$46,101$116,300$152 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Karnack, TX 75661 78%279$41,929$158,500$258 larger
Shirleysburg, PA 17260 77%1,042$45,324$203,100$109 pricier homes ($28K more)
Kermit, WV 25674 77%751$38,495$101,900— cheaper homes ($74K less) · younger residents
White Oak, NC 28399 77%797$33,512$155,700$163 younger residents · more renters
Lynchburg, SC 29080 77%706$36,467$105,100$108 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Perdido, AL 36562 77%219$38,094$136,200$222 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents
Pocahontas, TN 38061 77%392$38,047$155,400— younger residents
Duck Hill, MS 38925 77%281$41,217$123,400— cheaper homes ($52K less) · younger residents
Mc Dermott, OH 45652 77%778$42,708$137,000— cheaper homes ($39K less) · 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.