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 70805

Baton Rouge: median income $25,397, home value $108,500, $47/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Macon, GA 31206 88%467$30,042$90,200$71 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, MS 39213 82%140$29,541$75,900$39 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Mobile, AL 36603 81%184$26,879$109,100$68 smaller
Meridian, MS 39307 81%193$30,413$91,300$34 smaller · more homeowners
Beaumont, TX 77703 80%179$31,803$87,600$77 smaller
Columbus, GA 31903 79%389$32,401$81,000$46 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Jackson, MS 39209 78%137$36,344$78,400$48 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Gary, IN 46407 78%795$28,526$60,200$48 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · older homes
Birmingham, AL 35207 76%331$31,486$80,300$69 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Albany, GA 31701 75%420$35,025$94,800$76 Very close on everything we compare
Hayti, MO 63851 75%405$28,705$77,600$45 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Greenwood, MS 38930 74%217$35,453$112,300$67 more homeowners
Clarksdale, MS 38614 73%262$37,383$92,300$64 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, MS 39701 73%255$32,599$117,900$37 smaller · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Memphis, TN 38127 72%336$36,901$90,300$75 larger
Caruthersville, MO 63830 72%403$36,979$121,300$58 smaller
Yazoo City, MS 39194 71%170$32,260$130,200$93 newer homes
Jackson, MS 39204 71%135$30,237$69,500$30 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · more walkable
Pontiac, MI 48342 71%946$35,253$101,300$99 Very close on everything we compare
Birmingham, AL 35211 70%326$34,884$96,200$75 more walkable
Memphis, TN 38106 70%325$30,232$71,800$47 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents · more walkable
Gulfport, MS 39501 70%122$34,758$121,800$92 6 min shorter commute
Marianna, AR 72360 70%297$22,574$68,800— cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · older residents
Kinston, NC 28501 69%853$35,118$79,000$82 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Anderson, IN 46016 69%732$36,029$78,500$46 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 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.