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 Zwolle, LA 71486

Zwolle: median income $45,918, home value $117,100, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Stephen, SC 29479 95%809$51,397$127,700$135 Very close on everything we compare
Newton, TX 75966 94%54$40,087$102,900$107 Very close on everything we compare
Jennings, FL 32053 93%627$44,519$103,000$152 6 min shorter commute
Branchland, WV 25506 91%791$44,013$94,000$59 Very close on everything we compare
Hollister, NC 27844 91%956$39,076$105,200— Very close on everything we compare
Pomona Park, FL 32181 91%733$47,101$100,400$161 smaller · older residents
Ponce De Leon, FL 32455 91%460$50,952$109,800$205 Very close on everything we compare
Moriarty, NM 87035 91%752$44,938$162,700$186 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Bowman, SC 29018 90%766$49,167$108,000$162 more single-family homes
Estill, SC 29918 90%732$42,665$90,200$54 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Interlachen, FL 32148 90%713$45,420$112,300$175 larger
North, SC 29112 89%746$50,195$91,700$109 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Andrews, SC 29510 89%831$55,058$117,700$170 larger
Lumber Bridge, NC 28357 88%872$49,116$88,600$161 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Reynolds, GA 31076 88%563$44,706$113,800$78 smaller
Vernon, FL 32462 88%473$50,662$179,200$120 pricier homes ($62K more)
Bowman, GA 30624 87%642$51,988$101,100$158 7 min shorter commute
Vanceboro, NC 28586 86%983$57,041$112,300$139 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Salley, SC 29137 86%731$41,116$107,200$134 smaller · older residents
Midway, AL 36053 86%478$49,357$104,200— smaller
Magnolia, MS 39652 86%191$42,966$84,400$105 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Whitesburg, KY 41858 86%724$45,933$90,400$110 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Whitley City, KY 42653 86%633$42,656$109,200$158 more single-family homes
Haysi, VA 24256 85%755$48,788$104,100$113 smaller · older residents
Lenore, WV 25676 85%774$47,639$120,200— 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.