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 Stanley, VA 22851

Stanley: median income $53,329, home value $187,500, $205/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Orwell, OH 44076 92%238$52,500$162,800$164 Very close on everything we compare
South Webster, OH 45682 91%228$56,250$187,700— smaller
Erin, TN 37061 90%526$59,670$187,700$190 Very close on everything we compare
Greensboro, MD 21639 89%148$62,772$269,400$179 pricier homes ($82K more)
Peebles, OH 45660 89%263$57,252$161,600$145 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Franklin, GA 30217 88%520$55,938$190,800$186 larger
Saint Clair, MO 63077 88%674$56,281$178,200$171 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Crane, MO 65633 88%828$49,349$172,600$163 6 min shorter commute
Erwin, NC 28339 87%224$50,313$165,100$154 5 min shorter commute
Waverly, TN 37185 87%538$51,314$181,800$192 larger · older residents
Whitwell, TN 37397 87%451$54,750$173,200$194 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Lincoln, MO 65338 87%803$51,038$152,000$211 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Mount Nebo, WV 26679 86%127$53,459$164,900$179 smaller
Spring Hope, NC 27882 86%183$52,691$169,900$195 8 min shorter commute
Centerville, TN 37033 86%530$68,284$217,200$207 pricier homes ($30K more)
Falmouth, KY 41040 86%315$49,147$137,500$144 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Sandstone, MN 55072 86%887$58,144$200,500$174 6 min shorter commute
Lucerne Valley, CA 92356 86%2,136$54,923$269,900$196 pricier homes ($82K more)
Federalsburg, MD 21632 85%148$61,316$216,000$184 pricier homes ($29K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Terra Alta, WV 26764 85%82$61,010$150,500$174 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Tracy City, TN 37387 85%459$46,944$163,800$194 smaller · newer homes
Lake City, TN 37769 85%349$61,250$183,000$188 7 min shorter commute
Roseville, OH 43777 85%210$53,906$149,800$146 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Seaman, OH 45679 85%275$55,028$157,700$156 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · newer homes
Gosport, IN 47433 85%441$59,520$197,900$157 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.