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.

Reset

Towns most like Forest Hill, LA 71430

Forest Hill: median income $63,636, home value $180,300, $130/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mayesville, SC 29104 92%744$67,096$157,800$133 smaller · older residents
Brookland, AR 72417 92%356$61,964$173,700$151 larger
Bentonia, MS 39040 91%171$61,250$212,200$99 pricier homes ($32K more)
Sturgis, MS 39769 91%259$69,079$156,300— smaller
Emerson, AR 71740 91%148$65,455$168,300$149 more homeowners
Lone Grove, OK 73443 91%352$58,906$184,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
Hogansburg, NY 13655 90%1,363$52,309$191,100— Very close on everything we compare
Cairo, GA 39827 90%492$61,172$158,000$127 larger · older residents
Warsaw, KY 41095 90%689$66,905$180,700$149 Very close on everything we compare
Upton, KY 42784 90%583$68,699$178,100$153 Very close on everything we compare
Potterville, MI 48876 90%910$74,594$186,900$137 larger
Teachey, NC 28464 88%879$60,130$173,800$195 Very close on everything we compare
Ray City, GA 31645 88%550$70,833$140,800$172 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Paris, MI 49338 88%960$69,375$161,900$148 more homeowners
Knob Noster, MO 65336 88%538$66,935$217,900$153 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Coolidge, TX 76635 88%250$62,031$153,300— cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Beasley, TX 77417 88%232$75,405$184,300$151 Very close on everything we compare
Banner, KY 41603 87%720$62,986$202,200$103 older homes
Park City, KY 42160 87%559$49,364$157,000$155 Very close on everything we compare
Conway, MO 65632 87%448$57,656$212,400$160 pricier homes ($32K more)
Newark, AR 72562 87%330$55,156$144,600$118 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Piffard, NY 14533 86%1,145$68,170$184,900$138 smaller
Linwood, NC 27299 86%772$65,621$196,500$185 larger · older residents
Delco, NC 28436 86%858$64,297$184,200— older residents · 5 min longer commute
Portal, GA 30450 86%631$60,900$153,100$154 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents

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.