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 Monroe, LA 71201

Monroe: median income $65,446, home value $263,800, $130/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Springfield, MO 65804 94%327$62,301$243,500$162 larger
Beaumont, TX 77706 93%207$73,185$244,800$124 Very close on everything we compare
Morgantown, WV 26501 91%834$63,529$219,800$157 cheaper homes ($44K less)
High Point, NC 27262 91%730$65,006$236,500$155 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 91%361$66,654$219,800$135 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Hays, KS 67601 91%597$61,417$227,300$133 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Jackson, MS 39211 90%116$69,426$221,600$110 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Columbus, GA 31904 89%415$66,291$226,000$147 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
North Little Rock, AR 72116 89%158$79,010$232,600$132 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Radford, VA 24141 88%727$62,969$236,400$163 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Winston-Salem, NC 27103 88%716$67,012$241,700$182 larger
Muncie, IN 47304 88%647$63,215$172,200$133 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Saint Joseph, MO 64506 88%524$65,573$240,300$150 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73120 88%377$64,745$238,000$167 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Bloomsburg, PA 17815 87%1,044$67,510$222,900$160 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Huntington, WV 25705 87%681$61,329$165,300$114 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Chattanooga, TN 37415 87%431$70,972$285,000$216 Very close on everything we compare
Kearney, NE 68845 87%688$76,978$282,000$147 newer homes
Texarkana, TX 75503 87%131$72,159$229,800$148 cheaper homes ($34K less) · newer homes
Mobile, AL 36608 86%258$61,146$262,200$152 larger · 6 min longer commute
Paducah, KY 42001 86%369$71,365$215,300$143 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents
Marquette, MI 49855 86%1,001$62,083$263,300$224 larger
Eau Claire, WI 54701 86%847$74,361$289,900$184 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Appleton, WI 54911 86%836$67,001$216,100$174 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older homes
Winona, MN 55987 86%795$61,624$221,800$157 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 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.