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 Melville, LA 71353

Melville: median income $37,405, home value $118,300, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Garrison, KY 41141 92%732$36,508$87,500— cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Haworth, OK 74740 92%273$41,141$99,700— Very close on everything we compare
Leslie, AR 72645 91%360$33,516$116,200$170 Very close on everything we compare
Java, VA 24565 90%838$41,683$148,800— pricier homes ($31K more)
Pembroke Township, IL 60958 90%755$32,153$99,100$112 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Vernon, AL 36560 89%223$43,426$116,000$63 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Sardis, TN 38371 89%386$45,714$130,000$154 Very close on everything we compare
Pioneer, TN 37847 88%588$35,066$115,500$314 larger · newer homes
Waldo, AR 71770 88%207$44,569$91,200$109 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Viola, AR 72583 87%396$40,625$133,700$176 7 min shorter commute
Alderson, WV 24910 86%800$38,502$153,900$151 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Kermit, WV 25674 86%730$38,495$101,900— 7 min shorter commute
Columbia, NC 27925 86%966$41,522$161,100$123 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Reevesville, SC 29471 86%673$38,500$109,700$207 Very close on everything we compare
Oakman, AL 35579 86%331$46,968$110,800$86 larger
Newhebron, MS 39140 86%127$43,938$109,400$38 larger · more homeowners
Kennard, TX 75847 86%207$42,188$121,700$88 8 min longer commute
Mill Run, PA 15464 85%944$46,250$119,500$171 Very close on everything we compare
Clover, VA 24534 85%858$41,038$137,500— older residents
Rainelle, WV 25962 85%803$44,004$96,800$141 larger
Lynchburg, SC 29080 85%719$36,467$105,100$108 larger
Brantley, AL 36009 85%330$38,995$114,200— 7 min shorter commute
Robbins, TN 37852 85%570$36,639$118,200$181 larger · newer homes
Coffeeville, MS 38922 85%256$36,473$104,400$100 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Gloster, MS 39638 85%61$37,185$95,400$53 larger · more apartments and townhomes

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.