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 Saint Stephens Church, VA 23148

Saint Stephens Church: median income $67,266, home value $181,900, $226/sq ft, 43-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gay, GA 30218 89%534$68,250$193,900$221 Very close on everything we compare
Sunbright, TN 37872 85%435$58,906$144,600$159 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more homeowners
Burlison, TN 38015 85%724$69,141$197,600$188 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Mount Nebo, WV 26679 83%205$53,459$164,900$179 younger residents
Wagram, NC 28396 83%241$63,250$158,900$179 larger · more homeowners
Holton, IN 47023 83%458$68,750$218,500$196 pricier homes ($37K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Bee Branch, AR 72013 82%864$57,500$132,200$179 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Woodbourne, NY 12788 80%301$62,768$270,500$312 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
Williamsport, OH 43164 80%349$68,000$190,300$199 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners · older homes
Chesterhill, OH 43728 80%284$66,000$143,500— cheaper homes ($38K less) · more homeowners
Moscow, OH 45153 80%393$57,176$226,100— pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · more homeowners
Bellevue, TX 76228 80%1,217$69,250$171,200$176 younger residents · more homeowners
Capon Bridge, WV 26711 79%125$71,212$243,500$218 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · more homeowners
Vanleer, TN 37181 79%584$78,625$215,500$259 pricier homes ($34K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Malvern, OH 44644 79%295$64,637$223,300$212 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Sardinia, OH 45171 79%373$73,838$182,700$195 larger · more homeowners
Cromwell, MN 55726 79%1,010$80,313$227,300$246 pricier homes ($45K more) · more homeowners
Hughes, AR 72348 79%772$64,464$130,300$182 cheaper homes ($52K less) · older residents
Hickory Grove, SC 29717 78%314$68,235$168,400$117 Very close on everything we compare
Cumberland City, TN 37050 78%591$56,927$210,000$192 pricier homes ($28K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
South Webster, OH 45682 78%314$56,250$187,700— younger residents · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Damascus, AR 72039 78%868$63,667$178,900$157 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Staley, NC 27355 77%198$65,911$181,400— larger · 11 min shorter commute
Jamestown, SC 29453 77%351$71,328$182,100$235 younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Rhine, GA 31077 77%536$54,688$172,600— 8 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes

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.