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 70819

Baton Rouge: median income $73,561, home value $171,000, $125/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ash Grove, MO 65604 90%495$68,683$198,200$161 pricier homes ($27K more)
Atlantic Mine, MI 49905 88%1,156$77,617$211,300$122 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Auburn, IL 62615 88%635$84,632$165,400$129 Very close on everything we compare
Cheney, KS 67025 88%628$86,840$205,100$127 pricier homes ($34K more)
Russellville, MO 65074 87%561$74,464$178,800$128 Very close on everything we compare
Conway Springs, KS 67031 87%610$88,000$191,500$141 smaller
Gower, MO 64454 86%663$87,262$260,800$151 pricier homes ($90K more)
Sedgwick, KS 67135 86%631$74,939$213,700$168 pricier homes ($43K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Colton, NY 13625 84%1,306$80,417$148,000$115 smaller · older residents
Lexington, AL 35648 84%375$79,500$172,600$148 more apartments and townhomes
Greentown, IN 46936 84%748$79,900$223,300$152 pricier homes ($52K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Yorktown, IN 47396 84%740$78,125$175,000$155 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Divernon, IL 62530 84%634$82,188$160,100$104 smaller
Overbrook, KS 66524 84%630$84,375$173,100$142 smaller · older residents
Van, TX 75790 84%308$65,039$173,900$133 Very close on everything we compare
Alexandria, AL 36250 83%377$83,406$211,600$140 pricier homes ($41K more)
Athens, IL 62613 83%662$86,675$200,900$141 pricier homes ($30K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Mineral Point, PA 15942 82%967$84,875$185,000$88 smaller · older homes
Barrackville, WV 26559 82%874$73,229$166,900$145 smaller · older homes
Gadsden, AL 35905 82%381$67,042$195,600$133 Very close on everything we compare
Headland, AL 36345 82%342$71,453$200,800$152 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Clinton, MI 49236 82%892$79,783$230,300$175 pricier homes ($59K more) · older residents
Donnellson, IA 52625 82%705$80,078$205,300$125 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
New Berlin, IL 62670 82%646$78,750$211,900$134 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Boling, TX 77420 82%309$67,697$226,400$104 pricier homes ($55K more) · 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.