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 70807

Baton Rouge: median income $27,534, home value $121,100, $47/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Macon, GA 31206 88%469$30,042$90,200$71 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Beaumont, TX 77703 82%176$31,803$87,600$77 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Meridian, MS 39307 80%192$30,413$91,300$34 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Mobile, AL 36603 78%189$26,879$109,100$68 smaller · older residents · more renters
Clarksdale, MS 38614 77%257$37,383$92,300$64 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Greenwood, MS 38930 77%212$35,453$112,300$67 more homeowners
Caruthersville, MO 63830 77%397$36,979$121,300$58 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Jackson, MS 39213 76%136$29,541$75,900$39 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents · more walkable
Hayti, MO 63851 76%400$28,705$77,600$45 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Birmingham, AL 35207 75%330$31,486$80,300$69 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · more walkable
Columbus, GA 31903 74%391$32,401$81,000$46 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Birmingham, AL 35217 74%334$40,486$120,400$55 older residents · more walkable
Jackson, MS 39209 74%133$36,344$78,400$48 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · more walkable
Gary, IN 46407 74%790$28,526$60,200$48 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Yazoo City, MS 39194 73%165$32,260$130,200$93 newer homes
Anniston, AL 36201 72%380$37,614$80,900$40 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Ridgely, TN 38080 72%406$30,313$82,900$77 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Drew, MS 38737 72%231$28,343$77,800— cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Belzoni, MS 39038 72%185$33,538$85,800$49 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Gary, IN 46406 72%790$35,839$91,700$97 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Pine Bluff, AR 71601 72%255$37,528$80,000$31 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Albany, GA 31701 71%423$35,025$94,800$76 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Youngstown, OH 44505 71%938$37,538$93,000$87 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Forrest City, AR 72335 71%307$40,400$95,400$69 cheaper homes ($26K less) · newer homes
Ruleville, MS 38771 70%221$33,547$86,100$38 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller

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.