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 Helena, AR 72342

Helena: median income $36,905, home value $97,200, $58/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sophia, WV 25921 81%567$35,451$105,800$62 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Montgomery, WV 25136 80%575$28,173$126,100$57 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Butler, GA 31006 76%392$42,750$85,800$104 more homeowners
Harlan, KY 40831 76%437$35,404$89,100$68 9 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Charleston, MO 63834 75%180$41,348$114,000$67 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Wisner, LA 71378 75%186$36,950$110,700— smaller · more homeowners
Kinston, NC 28501 74%740$35,118$79,000$82 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Edison, GA 39846 74%398$36,661$65,700— cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · younger residents
Norton, VA 24273 73%479$41,978$109,300$89 more homeowners
Gretna, FL 32332 73%440$31,917$81,800— smaller · younger residents
Tutwiler, MS 38963 73%38$45,128$68,900— cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Bunkie, LA 71322 73%268$27,030$97,500$67 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Richlands, VA 24641 72%525$35,531$107,600$96 more homeowners
Aliceville, AL 35442 72%172$44,503$139,000$66 pricier homes ($42K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
Mamou, LA 70554 72%288$28,638$93,400$51 younger residents · more homeowners
Weldon, NC 27890 71%744$36,875$94,800— smaller · younger residents · more homeowners
Tennille, GA 31089 71%461$36,094$99,300$87 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Ridgely, TN 38080 71%136$30,313$82,900$77 smaller · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Springhill, LA 71075 71%194$40,246$100,800$81 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Williamson, WV 25661 70%515$25,014$94,900$63 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Birmingham, AL 35217 70%231$40,486$120,400$55 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Mobile, AL 36603 70%305$26,879$109,100$68 larger · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Dungannon, VA 24245 69%483$36,008$109,400$77 smaller · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Fairmont, NC 28340 69%654$39,746$86,700$75 larger · more homeowners
Denmark, SC 29042 69%550$41,047$88,200$86 younger residents · 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.