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 70809

Baton Rouge: median income $79,967, home value $324,000, $182/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Little Rock, AR 72211 96%309$83,134$284,100$157 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Columbus, OH 43235 93%811$86,666$383,500$206 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Auburn Hills, MI 48326 93%951$85,190$245,700$187 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Lawrence, KS 66049 93%637$90,147$393,400$190 pricier homes ($69K more)
Greenville, SC 29615 92%595$76,117$377,500$212 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Tallahassee, FL 32311 92%411$81,243$321,600$207 newer homes
Gainesville, FL 32606 92%521$87,953$347,800$189 Very close on everything we compare
Huntsville, AL 35802 91%395$76,324$334,100$170 older homes
Knoxville, TN 37923 91%556$73,699$333,000$213 Very close on everything we compare
Lawrence, KS 66047 91%636$65,392$342,300$173 Very close on everything we compare
Macon, GA 31210 90%464$78,447$285,800$130 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Ridgeland, MS 39157 90%150$66,068$275,000$158 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Westerville, OH 43081 90%813$92,422$329,800$209 larger
Omaha, NE 68154 90%801$81,385$326,100$158 Very close on everything we compare
Greensboro, NC 27410 89%757$85,291$338,600$187 larger · older residents
Greenville, SC 29607 89%593$74,503$359,500$194 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Tallahassee, FL 32308 89%409$77,967$328,000$217 older residents
Birmingham, AL 35216 89%327$74,525$398,200$192 pricier homes ($74K more) · older homes
Huntsville, AL 35806 89%395$86,768$347,700$174 newer homes
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 89%914$89,355$406,700$234 pricier homes ($83K more)
Novi, MI 48377 89%935$83,104$350,600$199 pricier homes ($27K more)
Maumelle, AR 72113 89%316$79,248$291,700$158 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Tyler, TX 75703 89%280$79,194$336,300$179 larger
Bedford, TX 76021 89%394$87,097$374,400$206 pricier homes ($50K more)
Buffalo, NY 14228 88%1,105$74,871$274,600$225 cheaper homes ($49K 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.