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 Ruston, LA 71270

Ruston: median income $36,791, home value $222,300, $161/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Troy, AL 36081 87%394$44,375$198,800$113 smaller
Stillwater, OK 74075 86%355$46,053$228,100$161 Very close on everything we compare
Las Cruces, NM 88001 86%823$33,087$163,800$154 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Starkville, MS 39759 84%231$46,398$256,900$173 pricier homes ($35K more)
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858 84%876$51,267$170,800$148 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Hattiesburg, MS 39401 82%213$41,127$134,300$120 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Murray, KY 42071 82%375$50,198$190,300$151 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older residents
Bowling Green, OH 43402 82%787$52,426$243,100$166 Very close on everything we compare
Waco, TX 76706 82%271$41,656$197,000$174 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 81%303$48,932$197,500$170 7 min longer commute
Stillwater, OK 74074 81%353$52,998$258,700$164 pricier homes ($36K more)
Cookeville, TN 38501 80%478$52,145$284,600$199 pricier homes ($62K more)
Jonesboro, AR 72401 80%254$45,329$188,600$124 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Tahlequah, OK 74464 80%269$51,262$174,000$143 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Nacogdoches, TX 75965 80%128$55,291$244,500$151 smaller
Florence, AL 35630 79%328$46,304$174,800$132 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents · older homes
Johnson City, TN 37604 79%640$52,345$259,600$196 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents
Martin, TN 38237 79%340$51,670$200,900$138 smaller
Dekalb, IL 60115 79%682$47,043$208,600$172 6 min longer commute
Rolla, MO 65401 78%378$56,081$222,800$138 Very close on everything we compare
Russellville, AR 72801 78%192$47,830$163,700$129 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Valdosta, GA 31602 77%559$56,939$217,300$132 Very close on everything we compare
Bowling Green, KY 42101 77%468$48,217$207,200$170 larger
Iowa City, IA 52240 77%632$52,960$242,300$181 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, MO 65807 77%323$53,870$192,400$162 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents

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.