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 Jena, LA 71342

Jena: median income $72,154, home value $120,900, $108/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Potosi, MO 63664 93%440$61,216$125,100$134 Very close on everything we compare
Roseboro, NC 28382 90%817$68,854$158,200$118 pricier homes ($37K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Brooksville, KY 41004 90%662$66,176$119,100$110 smaller
Mcconnelsville, OH 43756 90%796$63,365$141,900$119 Very close on everything we compare
Jemison, AL 35085 89%328$70,862$143,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Carlisle, KY 40311 89%648$61,348$130,000$115 Very close on everything we compare
Oak Hill, OH 45656 89%732$59,395$116,700$140 Very close on everything we compare
Silsbee, TX 77656 89%154$62,303$114,000$131 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Rochelle, GA 31079 88%509$69,083$90,700$96 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Jasper, AL 35503 88%319$63,508$161,800$152 pricier homes ($41K more)
Florala, AL 36442 88%344$62,847$117,700$129 smaller
Linden, TN 37096 88%365$63,782$122,700$137 5 min shorter commute
Lucasville, OH 45648 88%716$72,126$174,100$139 pricier homes ($53K more)
Marengo, IN 47140 88%566$65,718$118,200$108 smaller
Bloomfield, IN 47424 88%588$72,558$164,200$147 pricier homes ($43K more)
Pulaski, NY 13142 87%1,196$73,854$171,700$109 pricier homes ($51K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Wellston, OH 45692 87%744$55,301$134,100$134 Very close on everything we compare
Ulysses, KS 67880 87%664$66,923$110,700— younger residents
Ashdown, AR 71822 87%182$59,167$123,100$140 Very close on everything we compare
Chelsea, OK 74016 87%386$60,671$121,500$164 Very close on everything we compare
Haskell, OK 74436 87%352$62,723$149,400$155 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Groesbeck, TX 76642 87%260$62,243$189,000$108 pricier homes ($68K more)
Brushton, NY 12916 86%1,313$69,833$94,700$103 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Millport, AL 35576 86%262$72,292$120,800— smaller
Wilmer, AL 36587 86%231$72,657$161,800$139 pricier homes ($41K more) · 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.