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.

Reset

Towns most like Merryville, LA 70653

Merryville: median income $69,318, home value $111,800, $57/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gilbertown, AL 36908 89%320$68,125$111,400— smaller
Macomb, OK 74852 86%367$59,821$147,500— pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Islandton, SC 29929 85%760$58,267$104,500— smaller · younger residents
Cove, AR 71937 84%263$57,750$101,400$83 smaller
Springfield, AR 72157 84%323$62,931$140,300— pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Blum, TX 76627 84%245$70,375$126,900$93 smaller · older residents
Fruithurst, AL 36262 83%521$68,611$155,600— pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Shelbyville, TX 75973 82%76$67,023$130,800— older residents · 7 min longer commute
Holcomb, MS 38940 81%296$64,048$109,600— smaller · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Brooksville, KY 41004 81%771$66,176$119,100$110 Very close on everything we compare
Laneville, TX 75667 81%117$61,065$105,400$73 smaller · more single-family homes
Kirbyville, TX 75956 81%20$62,196$156,300$100 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
French Creek, WV 26218 80%945$58,646$143,900— pricier homes ($32K more) · more single-family homes
Collins, GA 30421 80%683$57,338$103,200$61 younger residents
Baconton, GA 31716 80%561$60,953$119,400$81 Very close on everything we compare
Malone, FL 32445 80%499$61,336$104,800$62 older homes
Apple Springs, TX 75926 80%92$65,833$130,400— smaller · younger residents
Joaquin, TX 75954 80%93$56,600$91,700— 7 min shorter commute
Hortense, GA 31543 79%688$50,181$81,900$72 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Locust Fork, AL 35097 79%462$58,056$150,500— pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · older residents
Webb, AL 36376 79%494$49,700$106,100$57 smaller
Lauderdale, MS 39335 79%324$85,804$93,000— Very close on everything we compare
New Straitsville, OH 43766 79%886$65,625$108,800$70 smaller · more single-family homes · older homes
Kitts Hill, OH 45645 79%829$64,632$99,800$69 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Iuka, IL 62849 79%612$60,789$87,800$59 smaller · more single-family homes · older homes

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.