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 New Church, VA 23415

New Church: median income $46,836, home value $177,800, $206/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Midway, TN 37809 91%433$50,192$163,000$180 Very close on everything we compare
Kaiser, MO 65047 86%927$53,750$264,600$220 pricier homes ($87K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Live Oak, FL 32064 83%680$50,984$165,500$154 larger
Helenwood, TN 37755 83%508$46,238$159,000$228 more homeowners
Decatur, AR 72722 83%1,047$54,838$230,200$228 pricier homes ($52K more)
Tulsa, OK 74116 82%1,126$55,156$156,200$173 larger · younger residents · older homes
Sharpsburg, NC 27878 81%193$53,382$111,500— cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · younger residents
Seeley, CA 92273 81%2,274$62,051$205,600— pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · younger residents
Bridgeport, WA 98813 81%2,303$49,969$177,000$202 younger residents
Fort Pierce, FL 34946 80%775$40,315$158,300$198 larger · more homeowners
Maricopa, CA 93252 80%2,423$43,947$161,700$139 smaller · more single-family homes · older homes
Celina, TN 38551 79%557$39,821$116,700$244 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · more homeowners
Cave City, KY 42127 79%574$42,893$164,000$124 larger
Noel, MO 64854 79%1,047$44,490$132,800$153 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · younger residents
Grand Ronde, OR 97347 79%2,500$52,500$313,800— pricier homes ($136K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Fisher, WV 26818 78%206$42,173$129,200$194 cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Harrells, NC 28444 78%273$44,330$206,700$213 pricier homes ($29K more) · more homeowners
Green Sea, SC 29545 78%325$42,083$126,700$192 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Oil City, LA 71061 78%1,099$35,536$113,200$142 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Coward, SC 29530 77%362$44,012$116,800$125 cheaper homes ($61K less) · more homeowners
Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 77%579$49,323$194,000$163 larger
Kirbyville, MO 65679 77%972$48,442$182,900$172 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Three Rivers, TX 78071 77%1,459$60,500$158,500— larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Milan, NM 87021 77%1,798$40,129$128,100— cheaper homes ($50K less) · more homeowners
Clallam Bay, WA 98326 77%2,511$46,500$266,100— pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller · more homeowners

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.