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 Shreveport, LA 71101

Shreveport: median income $19,351, home value $84,900, $50/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mobile, AL 36603 71%358$26,879$109,100$68 younger residents · more single-family homes
East Saint Louis, IL 62201 62%470$27,437$60,000$49 younger residents · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Marianna, AR 72360 62%232$22,574$68,800— younger residents · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Akron, OH 44307 60%896$27,697$85,500$95 younger residents · newer homes
Montgomery, WV 25136 59%801$28,173$126,100$57 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Cleveland, OH 44103 58%912$27,047$80,500$47 larger · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Gary, IN 46407 58%719$28,526$60,200$48 younger residents · 9 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Rochester, NY 14605 55%1,145$21,201$82,700$76 larger · younger residents · more walkable
Birmingham, AL 35234 54%408$26,831$114,300$34 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Columbus, MS 39701 54%310$32,599$117,900$37 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Cleveland, OH 44112 54%915$28,799$81,300$71 larger · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Augusta, GA 30901 52%685$25,163$104,000$109 larger · younger residents · 10 min longer commute
North Little Rock, AR 72114 52%178$30,175$130,000$85 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · younger residents
Albany, GA 31701 51%565$35,025$94,800$76 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Toledo, OH 43620 51%845$23,483$131,300$67 pricier homes ($46K more) · younger residents · more walkable
Jackson, MS 39203 49%207$26,569$53,000$29 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · younger residents
Muncie, IN 47305 49%706$36,389$77,800$71 smaller · younger residents · older homes
Birmingham, AL 35218 48%403$30,739$92,600$58 younger residents · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Meridian, MS 39307 48%292$30,413$91,300$34 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Cleveland, OH 44110 48%916$31,928$60,900$61 larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Kensett, AR 72082 48%223$31,638$91,000$84 smaller · younger residents · less walkable
Mound Bayou, MS 38762 47%199$27,000$95,400— smaller · more single-family homes · less walkable
Jackson, MS 39213 47%206$29,541$75,900$39 larger · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Kinston, NC 28501 46%945$35,118$79,000$82 larger · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Columbus, GA 31903 46%513$32,401$81,000$46 larger · younger residents · 10 min longer 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.