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 Castor, LA 71016

Castor: median income $41,806, home value $114,000, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Meigs, GA 31765 96%536$42,083$100,800— Very close on everything we compare
Ruby, SC 29741 91%763$45,000$117,000$152 Very close on everything we compare
Pullman, MI 49450 91%804$50,102$119,100$168 larger
Wilmar, AR 71675 91%117$37,396$156,300$38 pricier homes ($42K more)
Courtland, MS 38620 90%229$45,539$105,800$125 larger
Sharpsburg, KY 40374 89%663$43,607$115,100$153 5 min longer commute
Banks, AL 36005 88%428$47,250$107,300— Very close on everything we compare
Shannon, MS 38868 88%283$41,030$142,300$109 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Keavy, KY 40737 88%606$47,096$137,000$173 Very close on everything we compare
White Plains, KY 42464 88%471$45,893$104,700— older residents
Roseland, LA 70456 88%182$47,399$116,200$230 larger
Red Oak, OK 74563 88%219$44,063$108,200$216 older residents
Howe, OK 74940 88%207$50,677$130,700$141 Very close on everything we compare
Sibley, LA 71073 87%22$42,472$138,300$103 Very close on everything we compare
Cove City, NC 28523 86%929$45,452$158,600$118 pricier homes ($45K more) · more renters
Lamar, SC 29069 86%763$48,393$132,300$134 larger
Grand Ridge, FL 32442 86%487$45,500$114,200$168 larger · older residents
Seminary, MS 39479 86%218$47,426$136,200$145 larger
Climax, GA 39834 86%518$47,708$153,900— pricier homes ($40K more) · older residents
Raymondville, MO 65555 86%361$43,631$118,300$103 Very close on everything we compare
Belle Rose, LA 70341 86%195$35,346$88,500$100 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Hermitage, AR 71647 86%96$50,441$85,000$38 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Oktaha, OK 74450 86%271$50,446$122,200$149 Very close on everything we compare
Skidmore, TX 78389 86%392$37,195$86,200$118 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Fruitland, NM 87416 86%924$49,973$94,400— larger

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.