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 Lake Charles, LA 70605

Lake Charles: median income $86,015, home value $308,700, $142/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Winterville, NC 28590 95%989$83,880$266,400$159 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Lubbock, TX 79423 95%558$84,933$234,400$149 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Georgetown, KY 40324 93%744$85,110$289,100$184 Very close on everything we compare
Sartell, MN 56377 93%1,070$87,172$302,400$167 smaller
Owasso, OK 74055 93%449$87,506$281,400$172 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Bowling Green, KY 42104 92%609$75,164$306,400$174 Very close on everything we compare
Derby, KS 67037 92%560$85,541$242,100$142 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Temple, TX 76502 92%256$82,088$272,500$157 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Lubbock, TX 79424 92%561$97,231$296,300$153 Very close on everything we compare
Idaho Falls, ID 83404 92%1,382$82,103$394,300$164 pricier homes ($86K more)
Augusta, GA 30907 91%693$81,912$242,100$158 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Appleton, WI 54915 91%1,008$87,426$269,700$187 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Bemidji, MN 56601 91%1,205$72,262$260,900$170 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Kansas City, MO 64155 91%634$97,471$300,900$189 5 min longer commute
Springdale, AR 72762 91%419$82,228$303,700$211 Very close on everything we compare
Hewitt, TX 76643 91%252$83,511$273,300$176 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Woodway, TX 76712 91%255$97,903$340,600$179 pricier homes ($32K more)
Louisville, KY 40299 90%706$89,440$290,200$176 Very close on everything we compare
Plainfield, IN 46168 90%763$90,000$297,200$159 6 min longer commute
Dubuque, IA 52002 90%864$91,036$298,900$173 smaller · older residents
De Pere, WI 54115 90%1,025$94,721$339,500$213 pricier homes ($31K more)
Nixa, MO 65714 90%476$86,765$286,500$177 5 min longer commute
Omaha, NE 68164 90%785$88,927$255,900$167 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Jonesboro, AR 72405 90%413$92,440$259,900$152 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Canyon, TX 79015 90%606$83,445$280,400$177 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · 5 min longer 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.