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 Forrest City, AR 72335

Forrest City: median income $40,400, home value $95,400, $69/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Douglas, GA 31533 91%519$42,802$123,100$80 pricier homes ($28K more)
Albany, GA 31705 91%455$42,972$102,900$91 larger
Greenwood, MS 38930 89%109$35,453$112,300$67 Very close on everything we compare
Tuskegee, AL 36083 88%343$46,024$95,000$74 smaller · younger residents
Clarksdale, MS 38614 88%53$37,383$92,300$64 older homes
Greenville, MS 38703 88%111$44,291$85,700$64 Very close on everything we compare
Mccomb, MS 39648 88%266$42,737$105,300$92 Very close on everything we compare
Youngstown, OH 44505 88%695$37,538$93,000$87 older homes
Alexandria, LA 71302 88%275$34,669$110,000$56 Very close on everything we compare
Selma, AL 36701 87%281$39,815$108,200$82 more homeowners
Meridian, MS 39301 87%220$41,766$119,400— more homeowners
Hazard, KY 41701 87%452$39,439$97,600$98 more homeowners
Tallulah, LA 71282 87%179$35,244$97,400$73 smaller
Hugo, OK 74743 87%278$41,722$134,200$71 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Laurinburg, NC 28352 86%642$43,728$118,600$109 Very close on everything we compare
Kinston, NC 28501 86%746$35,118$79,000$82 older homes
Denmark, SC 29042 86%564$41,047$88,200$86 smaller
Tennille, GA 31089 86%478$36,094$99,300$87 smaller
Waycross, GA 31501 86%553$37,314$113,600$106 Very close on everything we compare
Americus, GA 31719 86%425$42,905$81,600$102 smaller · more homeowners
Greenville, AL 36037 86%326$45,677$103,300$96 more homeowners
Yazoo City, MS 39194 86%150$32,260$130,200$93 pricier homes ($35K more)
Macon, GA 31217 85%441$44,809$105,200$80 more homeowners
Caruthersville, MO 63830 85%103$36,979$121,300$58 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Charleston, MO 63834 85%155$41,348$114,000$67 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.