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 Mena, AR 71953

Mena: median income $51,969, home value $164,100, $127/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Iuka, MS 38852 96%342$52,942$150,400$134 smaller
Abbeville, SC 29620 91%675$53,288$207,900$136 pricier homes ($44K more)
Selmer, TN 38375 91%321$53,597$166,400$121 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Clinton, MO 64735 91%265$58,879$174,700$115 Very close on everything we compare
Amory, MS 38821 90%331$58,834$179,100$118 5 min longer commute
Cheboygan, MI 49721 90%918$61,174$172,200$149 Very close on everything we compare
Stockton, MO 65785 90%218$50,086$175,000$153 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Alexander City, AL 35010 89%489$51,338$149,100$146 younger residents
Grove Hill, AL 36451 89%422$54,417$152,400$124 smaller
Mitchell, IN 47446 89%516$50,337$146,000$123 younger residents
Salem, MO 65560 89%258$56,250$165,700$120 Very close on everything we compare
Shreveport, LA 71119 89%147$58,538$187,000$122 Very close on everything we compare
Chesterfield, SC 29709 88%802$54,784$144,200$148 smaller
Andalusia, AL 36420 88%502$49,347$167,800$110 younger residents · older homes
Ripley, MS 38663 88%301$52,141$148,200$105 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Catlettsburg, KY 41129 88%695$60,885$151,500$111 5 min longer commute
Clyde, OH 43410 88%767$52,500$164,900$161 older homes
West Branch, MI 48661 88%855$61,377$177,000$158 Very close on everything we compare
Stigler, OK 74462 88%69$49,293$167,000$113 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Wytheville, VA 24382 87%753$57,509$163,300$157 older homes
Somerset, KY 42503 87%571$54,707$210,200$144 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · younger residents
Farwell, MI 48622 87%811$56,804$136,700$135 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Grayling, MI 49738 87%861$59,708$168,800$145 6 min longer commute
Comanche, TX 76442 87%313$59,853$150,300$161 smaller · younger residents
Chilhowie, VA 24319 86%720$52,721$156,700$138 smaller · 5 min longer commute

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.