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 Rapidan, VA 22733

Rapidan: median income $74,180, home value $243,100, $127/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lometa, TX 76853 93%1,252$71,500$245,500$154 Very close on everything we compare
Petersburg, PA 16669 90%156$78,977$215,500$113 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Thompson, PA 18465 90%276$67,578$250,900$182 Very close on everything we compare
Union Dale, PA 18470 90%268$73,654$227,600$164 Very close on everything we compare
Remsen, NY 13438 89%377$69,797$192,900$135 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Plattsburg, MO 64477 89%883$64,643$238,900$172 larger
Au Sable Forks, NY 12912 88%479$70,046$189,200$121 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Beach Lake, PA 18405 88%274$72,472$253,700$146 Very close on everything we compare
Paint Lick, KY 40461 88%351$71,212$201,800$148 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents
Austinburg, OH 44010 88%279$80,455$223,300$173 5 min shorter commute
Berlin Center, OH 44401 88%241$71,953$237,300$171 Very close on everything we compare
Holy Cross, IA 52053 88%739$83,000$251,900$116 older homes
Wellington, MO 64097 88%860$74,750$229,800$192 smaller
Eddington, ME 04428 87%661$72,857$244,500$159 larger
Potosi, WI 53820 87%728$77,083$201,900$141 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Fountain City, WI 54629 87%812$74,432$229,900$143 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Bonnots Mill, MO 65016 87%751$78,750$269,400— pricier homes ($26K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Evant, TX 76525 87%1,227$80,208$169,800— cheaper homes ($73K less)
Franklin, ME 04634 86%666$67,589$264,600$166 5 min shorter commute
Sparrow Bush, NY 12780 86%278$74,468$221,700$190 more apartments and townhomes
Needmore, PA 17238 86%106$65,189$212,900$165 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Trout Run, PA 17771 86%219$71,016$198,000$117 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Moravia, IA 52571 86%806$81,953$197,800$139 cheaper homes ($45K less) · younger residents
Blanchardville, WI 53516 86%691$85,324$306,600$157 pricier homes ($64K more)
Rio, WI 53960 86%681$84,911$282,100$160 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · younger 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.