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.

Reset

Towns most like Ringgold, LA 71068

Ringgold: median income $33,125, home value $118,500, $93/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Garrison, KY 41141 89%713$36,508$87,500— cheaper homes ($31K less)
Elkhorn City, KY 41522 89%707$37,331$90,600$104 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Lynchburg, SC 29080 88%772$36,467$105,100$108 7 min shorter commute
Harts, WV 25524 86%744$40,194$89,700$74 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Gloster, MS 39638 86%160$37,185$95,400$53 Very close on everything we compare
Newton, TX 75966 86%106$40,087$102,900$107 Very close on everything we compare
Prentiss, MS 39474 85%207$35,586$84,600$73 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Spavinaw, OK 74366 85%298$34,615$100,300$78 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Salley, SC 29137 84%700$41,116$107,200$134 smaller
Oakman, AL 35579 83%356$46,968$110,800$86 Very close on everything we compare
Liberty, MS 39645 83%173$40,231$114,800$100 8 min shorter commute
Vanceburg, KY 41179 83%706$39,217$95,400$108 larger · younger residents
Pembroke Township, IL 60958 83%681$32,153$99,100$112 smaller
Tunnelton, WV 26444 82%900$44,004$119,800$112 more single-family homes
Gresham, SC 29546 82%814$32,043$97,100— 5 min shorter commute · more renters · newer homes
Magnolia, MS 39652 82%185$42,966$84,400$105 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Virgie, KY 41572 82%697$40,028$106,100$125 8 min shorter commute
Columbia, NC 27925 81%1,005$41,522$161,100$123 pricier homes ($43K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Springfield, SC 29146 81%703$34,318$79,600$93 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Quinton, AL 35130 81%371$40,690$90,400$112 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Beattyville, KY 41311 80%653$39,158$84,300$71 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Zavalla, TX 75980 80%103$45,439$94,500— Very close on everything we compare
Hurley, VA 24620 79%728$30,129$69,000— cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Hollister, NC 27844 79%917$39,076$105,200— younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Salters, SC 29590 79%785$31,115$74,400$128 cheaper homes ($44K less) · newer 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.