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 Columbia, LA 71418

Columbia: median income $40,785, home value $91,500, $121/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Latta, SC 29565 94%748$44,871$72,600$99 Very close on everything we compare
Homerville, GA 31634 94%555$46,332$92,300$116 Very close on everything we compare
Red Springs, NC 28377 93%769$37,326$98,300$102 larger
Timpson, TX 75975 93%134$44,297$96,900— Very close on everything we compare
Murfreesboro, NC 27855 92%907$42,938$99,600$112 Very close on everything we compare
Enfield, NC 27823 91%870$34,940$89,800$106 older residents
Laurel Hill, NC 28351 91%748$50,156$88,200$105 Very close on everything we compare
Coward, SC 29530 91%728$44,012$116,800$125 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Soperton, GA 30457 91%557$43,664$83,800$110 older residents
Buena Vista, GA 31803 91%446$45,189$104,900$138 older residents
Johnsonville, SC 29555 90%742$43,011$151,000$125 pricier homes ($60K more)
Reidsville, GA 30453 90%583$42,013$117,800$85 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Warrenton, GA 30828 90%558$36,444$75,200$144 smaller
Ashburn, GA 31714 90%497$33,287$94,200$146 Very close on everything we compare
Biscoe, NC 27209 89%743$45,861$129,300— pricier homes ($38K more)
Warsaw, NC 28398 89%835$47,458$91,200$122 more renters
Clayton, AL 36016 89%391$41,131$76,700$114 older residents
Forest, MS 39074 89%156$46,030$107,200$109 larger
Glenwood, AR 71943 89%174$44,904$121,800$164 pricier homes ($30K more)
Rose Hill, NC 28458 88%833$40,338$115,500$141 older residents
Dillon, SC 29536 88%753$46,120$90,300$98 larger
Williston, SC 29853 88%628$44,983$107,100$172 older residents
Phil Campbell, AL 35581 88%298$43,555$104,800$116 more single-family homes
Frisco City, AL 36445 88%282$39,421$102,600$103 older residents
Henning, TN 38041 88%282$41,042$95,500$97 Very close on everything we compare

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.