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 Des Arc, AR 72040

Des Arc: median income $32,476, home value $74,800, $108/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
York, AL 36925 90%254$29,342$80,600— 6 min shorter commute
Calhoun Falls, SC 29628 88%512$39,444$91,100$128 Very close on everything we compare
Jenkins, KY 41537 88%518$35,673$76,200$78 Very close on everything we compare
Arcadia, LA 71001 87%186$30,490$97,300$134 larger · younger residents
Brooksville, MS 39739 86%206$24,831$85,000— Very close on everything we compare
Shelbiana, KY 41562 86%531$40,104$96,700— smaller
Martin, KY 41649 86%518$36,023$67,100— more apartments and townhomes
Sardis, MS 38666 85%98$36,892$91,200$100 larger · younger residents
Richlands, VA 24641 84%561$35,531$107,600$96 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · younger residents
Haynesville, LA 71038 84%167$25,958$83,200$83 larger · younger residents
Pennington Gap, VA 24277 83%491$31,737$86,200$92 larger · younger residents
Newellton, LA 71357 83%202$28,750$81,600— smaller · 8 min longer commute
Wisner, LA 71378 83%206$36,950$110,700— pricier homes ($36K more) · younger residents
Georgiana, AL 36033 82%360$37,975$90,600$146 larger · younger residents
Shaw, MS 38773 82%104$30,661$110,400— pricier homes ($36K more)
Krotz Springs, LA 70750 82%307$38,466$96,100$133 smaller
Gibsland, LA 71028 82%191$36,394$93,600— smaller · younger residents
Seward, PA 15954 81%778$43,958$81,800$111 more homeowners
Jeffersonville, GA 31044 81%491$35,152$98,300$111 younger residents · more homeowners
Labadieville, LA 70372 81%357$40,659$105,200$119 pricier homes ($30K more) · more homeowners
Lone Star, TX 75668 81%231$41,495$81,700$114 more single-family homes
Garysburg, NC 27831 80%788$36,136$87,300— more apartments and townhomes
Hagerhill, KY 41222 80%520$40,859$105,100$81 pricier homes ($30K more)
Starks, LA 70661 80%346$24,917$83,700$138 Very close on everything we compare
Irwinton, GA 31042 79%501$36,569$83,000$124 smaller · more homeowners

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.