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 Cotton Valley, LA 71018

Cotton Valley: median income $41,638, home value $97,300, $145/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alberta, VA 23821 91%922$46,336$98,500$157 larger · older residents
Lenore, WV 25676 90%715$47,639$120,200— Very close on everything we compare
Lumber Bridge, NC 28357 88%835$49,116$88,600$161 larger
Mill Creek, WV 26280 87%856$46,335$134,100$115 pricier homes ($37K more)
Hackleburg, AL 35564 87%336$44,096$98,600$121 larger · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Sharpsburg, KY 40374 87%652$43,607$115,100$153 larger · more single-family homes
Bowman, SC 29018 86%739$49,167$108,000$162 larger · older residents
Lapine, AL 36046 86%421$41,974$103,400$117 more homeowners
Camp Wood, TX 78833 86%445$34,036$109,500$128 Very close on everything we compare
Ruby, SC 29741 85%771$45,000$117,000$152 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Fort Deposit, AL 36032 85%404$35,256$77,800$98 larger
Uniontown, AL 36786 85%346$33,375$70,800— cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Whitley City, KY 42653 85%575$42,656$109,200$158 larger
Hollister, NC 27844 84%912$39,076$105,200— larger · older residents
Nakina, NC 28455 84%855$37,760$117,800$187 older residents · more renters
Norway, SC 29113 84%714$48,857$84,200— older residents
Summer Shade, KY 42166 84%520$49,783$116,200$145 larger · older residents
Smoaks, SC 29481 83%731$46,719$88,900— 8 min longer commute
Mount Croghan, SC 29727 83%768$47,904$91,200$127 larger · more renters
Tignall, GA 30668 83%620$49,107$119,800$109 larger · older residents
Banks, AL 36005 83%450$47,250$107,300— older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Germantown, KY 41044 83%664$54,406$118,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Strunk, KY 42649 83%574$38,382$98,200$111 larger · newer homes
Irondale, MO 63648 83%379$51,765$99,500$126 older residents
Tenaha, TX 75974 83%77$47,292$91,300— larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute

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.