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 Natchitoches, LA 71457

Natchitoches: median income $46,668, home value $197,000, $134/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Murray, KY 42071 96%432$50,198$190,300$151 Very close on everything we compare
Tahlequah, OK 74464 96%306$51,262$174,000$143 Very close on everything we compare
Martin, TN 38237 94%399$51,670$200,900$138 smaller
Phenix City, AL 36867 93%475$48,026$207,600$148 Very close on everything we compare
Sumter, SC 29150 92%754$50,965$169,700$133 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Dothan, AL 36303 92%454$54,147$182,600$127 Very close on everything we compare
Gulfport, MS 39507 92%258$54,657$217,800$145 Very close on everything we compare
Rolla, MO 65401 92%434$56,081$222,800$138 pricier homes ($26K more)
Jonesboro, AR 72401 92%313$45,329$188,600$124 larger
Dublin, GA 31021 91%596$55,697$182,700$128 Very close on everything we compare
Macon, GA 31211 91%559$49,202$168,100$131 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older residents
Pikeville, KY 41501 91%720$47,349$157,800$144 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Pueblo, CO 81001 91%790$48,417$220,200$156 older homes
Nogales, AZ 85621 91%1,050$43,464$193,200$141 Very close on everything we compare
Las Cruces, NM 88005 91%803$54,452$220,800$168 Very close on everything we compare
Goldsboro, NC 27530 90%898$54,504$200,300$148 larger
Fayetteville, NC 28303 90%845$58,223$189,500$142 Very close on everything we compare
Milledgeville, GA 31061 90%582$54,263$184,400$146 larger · 6 min longer commute
Moultrie, GA 31768 90%551$46,858$143,800$141 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Tallahassee, FL 32305 90%530$48,045$156,300$144 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Florence, AL 35630 90%379$46,304$174,800$132 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, AL 36265 90%448$55,294$175,900$147 Very close on everything we compare
Johnson City, TN 37601 90%691$50,686$216,200$185 larger · older residents
Joplin, MO 64801 90%377$52,620$180,600$137 Very close on everything we compare
Arkadelphia, AR 71923 90%163$56,089$170,600$108 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller

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.