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 Elmer, LA 71424

Elmer: median income $56,179, home value $115,300, $44/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Islandton, SC 29929 88%703$58,267$104,500— 6 min longer commute
Dixons Mills, AL 36736 86%299$55,759$109,300— more renters
Frametown, WV 26623 85%847$60,761$100,500— more single-family homes
Lenore, WV 25676 82%750$47,639$120,200— more renters
Collins, GA 30421 80%628$57,338$103,200$61 larger · more renters
Bradfordsville, KY 40009 79%614$63,889$66,800— cheaper homes ($49K less)
Mc Intyre, GA 31054 78%569$53,929$111,500— older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Ariton, AL 36311 78%415$51,563$158,000— pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Silver Creek, MS 39663 78%162$46,484$84,500$58 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · older residents
Terlton, OK 74081 78%410$52,941$124,200— older residents · more single-family homes
Banks, AL 36005 77%410$47,250$107,300— older residents · more renters
Prairie, MS 39756 77%298$57,782$80,300— cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents
Hagerman, NM 88232 77%692$65,000$134,700— larger · more single-family homes
Hermitage, AR 71647 76%158$50,441$85,000$38 cheaper homes ($30K less) · more renters · older homes
Vado, NM 88072 75%822$53,750$99,600— larger · younger residents · more renters
Apple Springs, TX 75926 74%134$65,833$130,400— more renters · more single-family homes
Sweet Water, AL 36782 73%289$51,429$66,200— cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents · older homes
Pall Mall, TN 38577 73%578$52,578$153,000— pricier homes ($38K more) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Gadsden, SC 29052 72%721$52,775$83,900— cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · older residents
West, MS 39192 72%223$48,750$90,200— cheaper homes ($25K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Brinson, GA 39825 72%472$65,254$138,900— more renters
Sanders, KY 41083 72%679$53,088$190,300— pricier homes ($75K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Hattieville, AR 72063 72%286$59,643$121,200$76 older residents · more single-family homes
Waterflow, NM 87421 71%984$51,029$122,800— more renters
Castle Creek, NY 13744 70%1,203$61,086$120,000— more single-family homes

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.