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.

Reset

Towns most like Fort Smith, AR 72903

Fort Smith: median income $61,434, home value $235,900, $125/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alexandria, LA 71303 96%299$67,156$244,200$143 Very close on everything we compare
Dalton, GA 30720 95%532$69,369$249,800$146 Very close on everything we compare
Evansville, IN 47715 95%423$60,897$210,600$152 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Saint Joseph, MO 64506 95%308$65,573$240,300$150 Very close on everything we compare
Fayetteville, NC 28303 94%869$58,223$189,500$142 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Columbus, GA 31904 94%573$66,291$226,000$147 Very close on everything we compare
Gulfport, MS 39507 93%461$54,657$217,800$145 Very close on everything we compare
Willmar, MN 56201 93%678$68,804$216,300$132 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Cloud, MN 56303 93%707$65,198$205,200$145 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Rolla, MO 65401 93%231$56,081$222,800$138 Very close on everything we compare
Lafayette, LA 70506 93%379$57,379$218,000$135 larger
Waco, TX 76710 93%309$58,186$250,300$155 Very close on everything we compare
Goldsboro, NC 27534 92%926$62,574$208,000$160 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Rocky Mount, NC 27804 92%928$61,359$209,300$133 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Terre Haute, IN 47802 92%475$57,395$170,200$136 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Norfolk, NE 68701 92%490$62,633$214,500$137 Very close on everything we compare
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 92%952$61,580$228,000$175 Very close on everything we compare
Plattsburgh, NY 12901 91%1,276$60,942$189,400$166 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Dothan, AL 36303 91%590$54,147$182,600$127 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Tupelo, MS 38801 91%330$62,946$197,100$141 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Longview, TX 75601 91%196$65,700$210,500$146 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Las Cruces, NM 88005 91%742$54,452$220,800$168 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomsburg, PA 17815 90%1,048$67,510$222,900$160 Very close on everything we compare
Spartanburg, SC 29301 90%701$57,805$212,000$142 Very close on everything we compare
Greenwood, SC 29649 90%697$54,585$235,100$168 Very close on everything we compare

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.