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 Dodson, LA 71422

Dodson: median income $36,111, home value $108,500, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pelham, NC 27311 91%812$39,044$128,200$141 larger
Fort Deposit, AL 36032 90%357$35,256$77,800$98 cheaper homes ($31K less)
State Line, MS 39362 90%249$40,417$90,100$62 larger
Hollister, NC 27844 89%890$39,076$105,200— larger · older residents
Nakina, NC 28455 89%823$37,760$117,800$187 more renters
Reevesville, SC 29471 89%703$38,500$109,700$207 smaller · older residents
Uniontown, AL 36786 89%304$33,375$70,800— cheaper homes ($38K less)
Vardaman, MS 38878 89%239$42,472$75,100$56 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Sharpsburg, KY 40374 89%653$43,607$115,100$153 Very close on everything we compare
Whitley City, KY 42653 89%567$42,656$109,200$158 larger
Alberta, VA 23821 88%903$46,336$98,500$157 Very close on everything we compare
Mill Creek, WV 26280 88%849$46,335$134,100$115 pricier homes ($26K more)
Strunk, KY 42649 88%565$38,382$98,200$111 newer homes
Camp Wood, TX 78833 88%465$34,036$109,500$128 smaller · more walkable
Orrum, NC 28369 87%805$40,000$77,800$77 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents
Trafford, AL 35172 87%365$39,844$126,300$134 Very close on everything we compare
Tyler, AL 36785 87%340$29,619$104,700— smaller
Wilmar, AR 71675 87%116$37,396$156,300$38 pricier homes ($48K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Traphill, NC 28685 86%728$46,406$123,200$312 Very close on everything we compare
Clio, AL 36017 86%417$41,167$97,000— larger · older residents
Pine Hill, AL 36769 86%299$36,884$73,600$48 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Scotts Hill, TN 38374 86%348$38,389$116,000$137 8 min shorter commute
Centreville, MS 39631 86%115$36,790$69,300$68 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Flatgap, KY 41219 86%684$48,365$88,100$60 Very close on everything we compare
Beaver, OH 45613 86%732$30,703$159,700$139 pricier homes ($51K 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.