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 Mathews, VA 23109

Mathews: median income $79,196, home value $310,800, $187/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lenhartsville, PA 19534 98%218$80,357$293,100$204 Very close on everything we compare
Spring Valley, WI 54767 96%972$83,917$265,000$190 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Monticello, WI 53570 95%789$87,500$245,200$183 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Rio, WI 53960 95%792$84,911$282,100$160 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Deer Park, WI 54007 95%985$85,398$309,400— smaller
Stoddard, WI 54658 95%889$73,438$249,800$216 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Wallingford, VT 05773 94%452$80,726$261,700$155 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Cleveland, MN 56017 94%1,026$88,056$330,900$211 Very close on everything we compare
Waterville, MN 56096 94%1,012$87,679$278,000$160 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Trappe, MD 21673 93%86$68,194$363,100$205 pricier homes ($52K more)
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450 93%246$69,554$264,200$213 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Markleville, IN 46056 93%530$72,423$229,600$207 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Morristown, IN 46161 93%527$78,603$220,600$214 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Tabor, IA 51653 93%1,060$71,319$230,200$176 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Albany, WI 53502 93%781$87,000$252,300$220 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Amherst, WI 54406 93%829$77,533$284,800$186 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Beresford, SD 57004 93%1,142$88,750$264,100$168 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Garretson, SD 57030 93%1,140$79,375$327,400$214 Very close on everything we compare
Big Timber, MT 59011 93%1,814$78,000$328,100$211 Very close on everything we compare
Potlatch, ID 83855 93%2,151$84,423$298,300$223 Very close on everything we compare
Biglerville, PA 17307 92%179$88,571$258,200$171 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Saint Cloud, WI 53079 92%759$86,667$260,000$181 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Markesan, WI 53946 92%792$72,450$245,500$175 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Glenwood City, WI 54013 92%974$87,500$307,600$179 Very close on everything we compare
Morristown, MN 55052 92%1,007$82,760$279,200$157 cheaper homes ($32K less)

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.