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 70820

Baton Rouge: median income $47,429, home value $286,600, $137/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Auburn, AL 36832 79%366$42,717$263,900$210 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Athens, GA 30605 78%519$50,062$314,200$203 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older homes
Columbia, MO 65201 78%595$48,113$248,400$184 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Starkville, MS 39759 77%253$46,398$256,900$173 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
San Marcos, TX 78666 76%406$54,737$306,700$173 larger
Morgantown, WV 26505 75%901$45,536$278,000$170 larger · 9 min shorter commute · more walkable
Greenville, NC 27858 74%877$59,713$251,100$162 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Gainesville, FL 32607 74%527$45,987$321,900$180 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · more walkable
Statesboro, GA 30458 72%572$52,038$231,300$177 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Central, SC 29630 71%573$55,264$234,500$173 cheaper homes ($52K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Greensboro, NC 27409 69%760$60,281$225,000$162 cheaper homes ($62K less) · older residents
Kalamazoo, MI 49006 69%878$43,639$208,600$159 cheaper homes ($78K less) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Stillwater, OK 74075 69%524$46,053$228,100$161 cheaper homes ($59K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Orlando, FL 32821 68%600$69,348$309,600$212 older residents · more walkable
Rexburg, ID 83440 68%1,460$58,159$419,300$203 pricier homes ($133K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Bowling Green, OH 43402 67%868$52,426$243,100$166 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Lawrence, KS 66047 67%636$65,392$342,300$173 pricier homes ($56K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Charlotte, NC 28262 66%694$69,231$346,600$184 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · older residents
Ames, IA 50014 66%818$60,731$336,800$211 pricier homes ($50K more) · 10 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75236 66%374$49,715$255,800$179 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents · more walkable
Vermillion, SD 57069 65%915$53,327$231,200$142 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Arlington, TX 76006 65%386$59,139$294,200$172 older residents · older homes
Storrs Mansfield, CT 06268 64%1,314$55,219$348,600$220 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller · older homes
Orlando, FL 32826 64%613$64,755$254,300$228 cheaper homes ($32K less) · more homeowners
Clemson, SC 29631 63%569$48,800$400,400$214 pricier homes ($114K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family 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.