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 Emerson, AR 71740

Emerson: median income $65,455, home value $168,300, $149/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Paris, MI 49338 96%846$69,375$161,900$148 Very close on everything we compare
Palmyra, ME 04965 94%1,507$60,543$154,900$135 Very close on everything we compare
La Fargeville, NY 13656 92%1,202$72,500$154,600$133 Very close on everything we compare
Sparta, KY 41086 92%606$61,824$168,800$137 6 min longer commute
Woodlawn, IL 62898 92%433$74,297$158,800$121 Very close on everything we compare
Dry Prong, LA 71423 92%109$71,729$166,400$130 larger
Forest Hill, LA 71430 91%148$63,636$180,300$130 more renters
Locke, NY 13092 90%1,126$78,056$192,700$148 Very close on everything we compare
Theresa, NY 13691 90%1,209$79,943$173,400$147 Very close on everything we compare
Bland, VA 24315 90%742$62,708$157,900$147 larger · older residents
Teachey, NC 28464 90%877$60,130$173,800$195 Very close on everything we compare
Leesburg, AL 35983 90%434$63,793$174,300$187 larger
Upton, KY 42784 90%510$68,699$178,100$153 Very close on everything we compare
Bidwell, OH 45614 90%731$60,000$162,300$161 larger
Goodman, MO 64843 90%261$55,492$152,700$143 larger
Rosepine, LA 70659 90%150$65,640$204,400— pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Little River Academy, TX 76554 90%284$75,500$177,300$151 more single-family homes
Piffard, NY 14533 89%1,069$68,170$184,900$138 Very close on everything we compare
Letart, WV 25253 89%745$62,756$117,400$159 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Salemburg, NC 28385 89%853$66,860$145,800$189 older residents
Eastover, SC 29044 89%722$57,297$135,200$152 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Brookwood, AL 35444 89%341$69,207$181,500$176 larger
Blue Springs, MS 38828 89%266$65,025$158,900$161 larger · 6 min longer commute
Potterville, MI 48876 89%804$74,594$186,900$137 larger
Lone Grove, OK 73443 89%246$58,906$184,500$135 larger · more renters

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.