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 Fort Smith, AR 72904

Fort Smith: median income $41,909, home value $111,500, $108/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marshall, TX 75670 94%198$42,386$112,300$117 Very close on everything we compare
Plainview, TX 79072 94%425$47,255$114,000$96 Very close on everything we compare
Mobile, AL 36605 91%492$43,538$99,200$99 older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73115 91%172$46,810$123,000$136 Very close on everything we compare
Waco, TX 76707 91%310$40,443$126,200$131 Very close on everything we compare
Tyler, TX 75702 90%217$51,564$115,200$113 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, TN 38301 89%314$43,227$132,900$128 larger
Laurel, MS 39440 89%396$46,947$125,400$111 Very close on everything we compare
Enid, OK 73701 89%206$50,843$100,900$93 Very close on everything we compare
Canton, OH 44705 88%801$43,439$81,400$131 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Lima, OH 45801 88%670$51,731$123,900$132 older residents
Battle Creek, MI 49037 88%687$42,690$99,600$137 more apartments and townhomes
Muskogee, OK 74401 88%66$42,294$149,300$110 pricier homes ($38K more) · older residents
Ponca City, OK 74601 88%175$52,067$99,700$89 Very close on everything we compare
Lubbock, TX 79412 88%444$48,878$130,700$90 Very close on everything we compare
Roswell, NM 88203 88%595$42,207$126,600$117 older residents · more homeowners
Canton, OH 44707 87%799$44,943$109,100$114 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Miami, OK 74354 87%105$50,818$127,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Rocky Mount, NC 27801 86%933$44,884$115,400$109 more walkable
Augusta, GA 30906 86%719$45,999$124,700$112 larger
Waycross, GA 31501 86%751$37,314$113,600$106 smaller · older residents
Albany, GA 31705 86%651$42,972$102,900$91 more apartments and townhomes
Mobile, AL 36611 86%486$46,559$117,500$88 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Jackson, MI 49202 86%715$42,632$116,100$122 older residents
Rockford, IL 61101 86%554$46,163$90,600$92 older residents

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.