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 Alexandria, LA 71301

Alexandria: median income $43,098, home value $160,800, $92/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Birmingham, AL 35206 92%370$42,549$153,500$74 Very close on everything we compare
Tulsa, OK 74127 91%394$46,373$134,200$126 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Muskogee, OK 74401 89%352$42,294$149,300$110 newer homes
Evansville, IN 47710 88%541$47,292$147,300$125 more apartments and townhomes
Wichita Falls, TX 76309 88%396$54,159$143,400$117 Very close on everything we compare
Lubbock, TX 79412 88%569$48,878$130,700$90 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Roanoke, VA 24017 87%823$47,360$150,600$114 more walkable
Henderson, NC 27536 87%878$39,985$131,000$112 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Greenville, MS 38701 87%166$40,854$127,300$92 cheaper homes ($34K less) · newer homes
Akron, OH 44320 87%908$41,241$104,700$109 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Danville, VA 24541 86%830$51,427$145,100$115 larger
Fort Smith, AR 72901 86%303$42,851$118,100$113 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Oklahoma City, OK 73111 86%410$40,340$120,700$111 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · more walkable
Macon, GA 31204 85%525$38,784$135,300$89 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · younger residents
Sheffield, AL 35660 85%366$40,065$135,400$113 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller · older residents
Springfield, OH 45506 85%767$42,104$107,300$102 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Pontiac, MI 48341 85%931$51,390$150,500$119 5 min longer commute
Jackson, MI 49202 85%879$42,632$116,100$122 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Quincy, IL 62301 85%600$52,055$135,100$111 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Bartlesville, OK 74003 85%428$47,168$113,500$103 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Waycross, GA 31501 84%597$37,314$113,600$106 cheaper homes ($47K less) · newer homes
Indianola, MS 38751 84%183$44,699$116,100$91 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · newer homes
Benton Harbor, MI 49022 84%819$39,499$159,600$149 larger
Cushing, OK 74023 84%407$49,097$145,400$110 more homeowners
Lima, OH 45801 83%804$51,731$123,900$132 cheaper homes ($37K less)

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.