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 Duson, LA 70529

Duson: median income $51,632, home value $199,800, $137/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Effingham, SC 29541 96%771$52,067$163,000$140 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Elmore, AL 36025 95%381$54,414$175,700$141 smaller
Batesville, MS 38606 94%313$54,539$162,100$128 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Ellisville, MS 39437 94%198$56,240$174,100$143 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Grayson, KY 41143 94%769$49,257$150,600$132 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Godwin, NC 28344 93%856$48,737$187,300$140 smaller
Ayden, NC 28513 93%929$57,285$161,600$150 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Batesburg, SC 29006 93%671$50,379$157,500$137 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Somerville, AL 35670 93%431$51,864$205,400$165 smaller
Bay Minette, AL 36507 93%265$50,120$183,800$160 larger
Valley, AL 36854 93%449$55,973$160,100$167 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Dayton, TN 37321 93%553$54,684$192,700$179 larger
Scottsville, KY 42164 93%569$60,106$196,800$159 Very close on everything we compare
Beebe, AR 72012 93%339$61,277$171,700$144 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Bristow, OK 74010 93%459$56,037$188,500$146 Very close on everything we compare
Poteet, TX 78065 93%396$57,200$167,300$145 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Madison, NC 27025 92%822$56,682$194,700$184 Very close on everything we compare
Gaffney, SC 29341 92%695$58,029$188,900$167 larger
Wellford, SC 29385 92%671$58,249$216,900$162 smaller
Glennville, GA 30427 92%616$52,958$162,100$141 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Lavonia, GA 30553 92%604$52,833$207,900$202 smaller
Blackshear, GA 31516 92%592$63,203$154,900$143 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Nashville, GA 31639 92%534$54,159$152,800$136 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Cullman, AL 35058 92%420$62,146$212,300$164 Very close on everything we compare
Hanceville, AL 35077 92%412$48,276$162,400$149 cheaper homes ($37K less)

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.