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 Branch, LA 70516

Branch: median income $53,750, home value $163,100, $126/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pierpont, OH 44082 90%1,025$51,687$151,800$115 6 min shorter commute
North Bloomfield, OH 44450 90%1,001$51,723$177,200$111 larger
Dorset, OH 44032 88%1,016$55,188$167,600$120 larger · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Medaryville, IN 47957 88%803$61,002$159,400$125 larger
Callaway, VA 24067 87%843$49,353$246,300$120 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger
Lamar, MS 38642 86%362$59,388$143,200$162 larger
Madison, MO 65263 86%630$56,211$121,000$125 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Otterville, MO 65348 86%580$52,125$207,400$122 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents
Russell, NY 13684 85%1,350$57,465$114,300$140 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Hardyville, KY 42746 85%607$50,000$115,200$126 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Dayton, PA 16222 84%1,032$64,688$158,400$138 larger
Ulysses, PA 16948 84%1,137$46,116$153,800$98 Very close on everything we compare
Beavertown, PA 17813 84%1,114$64,792$189,300$97 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Baskerville, VA 23915 84%921$50,815$156,600$119 more renters
Casar, NC 28020 84%716$59,978$188,700$115 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Mount Olivet, KY 41064 84%736$51,094$158,300$118 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Kimmell, IN 46760 84%852$46,992$165,300$123 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Sterling, MI 48659 84%1,051$58,750$146,200$137 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Kingston, MI 48741 84%1,033$59,107$154,800$97 larger · older residents
Cornell, WI 54732 84%1,026$62,875$184,000$117 larger · older residents
Sheldon, WI 54766 84%1,037$66,050$150,500$103 older residents
New Boston, IL 61272 84%755$64,167$145,900$110 older residents
Blain, PA 17006 83%1,081$64,722$169,500$114 Very close on everything we compare
Harrisonville, PA 17228 83%1,043$67,438$172,000$114 Very close on everything we compare
Thaxton, VA 24174 83%874$54,052$192,800$135 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes

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.