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 Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Baton Rouge: median income $34,458, home value $99,800, $102/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Little Rock, AR 72209 86%300$40,231$98,800$95 Very close on everything we compare
Fayetteville, NC 28301 82%782$39,198$122,400$146 older residents
Lubbock, TX 79415 82%663$36,468$96,400$139 smaller · newer homes
Macon, GA 31204 81%471$38,784$135,300$89 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Albany, GA 31701 81%423$35,025$94,800$76 smaller · older residents
Memphis, TN 38118 79%327$43,446$107,600$88 larger · more walkable
Pascagoula, MS 39581 79%158$37,927$153,100$91 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · older residents
Fort Smith, AR 72901 79%388$42,851$118,100$113 older residents · more homeowners
Laredo, TX 78040 79%542$36,092$118,700$151 Very close on everything we compare
Hattiesburg, MS 39401 78%126$41,127$134,300$120 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · more homeowners
Pontiac, MI 48342 78%949$35,253$101,300$99 older residents
Killeen, TX 76541 78%392$37,349$116,300$94 6 min longer commute
Las Cruces, NM 88001 78%927$33,087$163,800$154 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · newer homes
Americus, GA 31709 77%426$41,531$139,800$74 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Huntsville, AL 35805 77%396$35,385$137,800$142 pricier homes ($38K more) · older residents · more walkable
Gulfport, MS 39501 77%124$34,758$121,800$92 older residents
Waco, TX 76704 76%361$30,349$134,900$138 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Akron, OH 44310 75%914$41,066$99,400$105 older residents · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Evansville, IN 47713 75%559$40,873$95,900$80 smaller · older residents · older homes
Rochester, NY 14621 74%1,154$35,383$90,700$100 older residents · more walkable · older homes
Henderson, NC 27536 74%841$39,985$131,000$112 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · older residents
Memphis, TN 38116 74%324$42,183$138,600$90 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · older residents
Kalamazoo, MI 49007 74%876$39,344$111,300$106 smaller · older homes
Lubbock, TX 79414 74%665$49,057$157,500$105 pricier homes ($58K more) · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35211 73%329$34,884$96,200$75 older residents · 7 min longer commute · more walkable

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.