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 Bell City, LA 70630

Bell City: median income $74,258, home value $208,900, $169/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Adamsville, OH 43802 83%933$71,875$205,600$228 8 min longer commute · older homes
Hamshire, TX 77622 82%78$100,556$208,000$149 higher income ($26K more)
Sims, NC 27880 80%949$79,375$219,500$165 larger · 6 min longer commute · more renters
Kiefer, OK 74041 80%440$83,365$224,500$140 larger · more renters
Maysville, WV 26833 79%1,000$72,012$180,100$211 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · older residents
Symsonia, KY 42082 79%537$67,000$223,200$134 older homes
Vance, AL 35490 78%401$87,813$199,200$160 larger · 8 min longer commute
Finger, TN 38334 78%445$66,563$150,900$144 cheaper homes ($58K less) · more renters · older homes
Etna, ME 04434 77%1,647$72,379$183,000$195 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents · older homes
Fosters, AL 35463 77%376$59,464$226,000$185 older residents · older homes
Brooklyn, MS 39425 76%244$69,525$224,800— 8 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Mason, IL 62443 76%661$86,950$172,000$104 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older homes
Clark, MO 65243 76%635$68,021$208,200$191 larger · more renters · older homes
Stem, NC 27581 75%928$59,492$210,600$193 larger · 6 min longer commute
Woodstock, AL 35188 75%407$73,438$209,300$132 larger · older residents · older homes
Fruitland, IA 52749 75%784$103,424$217,700$136 higher income ($29K more) · older homes
Sugar Valley, GA 30746 74%559$81,696$238,000$175 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Leesburg, AL 35983 74%510$63,793$174,300$187 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older homes
Lake Cormorant, MS 38641 74%371$96,208$237,400$172 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · older residents
Pottsville, AR 72858 74%355$69,760$172,400$151 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · older residents
Ellendale, DE 19941 73%1,168$75,139$243,800$208 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Brush Creek, TN 38547 73%580$80,843$244,100$221 pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Big Prairie, OH 44611 73%952$68,809$238,300$130 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · older residents
South Boardman, MI 49680 73%1,090$77,216$168,000$193 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 8 min longer commute · older homes
Oronogo, MO 64855 73%502$90,500$177,400$165 cheaper homes ($32K 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.