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 Bogalusa, LA 70427

Bogalusa: median income $38,074, home value $133,400, $99/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wadesboro, NC 28170 93%638$39,548$154,400$130 smaller
Quincy, FL 32351 93%313$38,967$134,600$120 Very close on everything we compare
Sylacauga, AL 35150 92%268$45,768$132,100$100 Very close on everything we compare
Union, SC 29379 91%551$40,879$109,900$113 Very close on everything we compare
Atmore, AL 36502 91%142$44,360$139,000$123 Very close on everything we compare
Lawrenceville, VA 23868 89%805$45,458$133,200$103 smaller
Marion, SC 29571 89%653$37,395$108,400$129 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Ahoskie, NC 27910 88%833$43,144$118,200$117 smaller
Hamlet, NC 28345 88%655$40,957$97,600$114 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Bishopville, SC 29010 88%607$43,500$103,400$78 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Bennettsville, SC 29512 88%648$34,734$86,400$90 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Alma, GA 31510 88%441$45,958$108,000$106 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Monroeville, AL 36460 88%158$41,008$126,500$90 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Brownsville, TN 38012 88%336$45,974$161,500$127 pricier homes ($28K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Ripley, TN 38063 88%345$49,403$153,300$118 Very close on everything we compare
Trumann, AR 72472 88%335$40,529$113,500$97 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Lake City, SC 29560 87%628$46,601$125,900$112 Very close on everything we compare
Greenville, AL 36037 87%204$45,677$103,300$96 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Bolivar, TN 38008 87%313$43,789$127,800$135 smaller
Aberdeen, MS 39730 87%225$43,336$93,500$110 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Somerset, KY 42501 87%533$48,965$142,200$136 Very close on everything we compare
Linton, IN 47441 87%592$47,636$119,000$108 smaller
Jonesville, VA 24263 86%562$39,364$114,700$105 smaller
Whiteville, NC 28472 86%694$42,003$151,000$130 Very close on everything we compare
Eufaula, AL 36027 86%288$47,825$131,800$112 Very close on everything we compare

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.