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 Montvale, VA 24122

Montvale: median income $66,563, home value $198,600, $137/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belleville, WV 26133 93%160$74,917$223,500$125 Very close on everything we compare
Bradford, ME 04410 92%771$82,955$176,200$163 Very close on everything we compare
James Creek, PA 16657 92%220$63,353$214,500$164 Very close on everything we compare
Brooker, FL 32622 92%538$72,639$233,100$162 pricier homes ($35K more)
Clearville, PA 15535 90%183$57,212$205,200$143 younger residents
Westfield, NC 27053 90%74$67,974$224,500$180 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Eastman, WI 54626 90%716$69,926$253,000$136 pricier homes ($54K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Sedgewickville, MO 63781 90%560$72,561$166,400$177 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Fruitvale, TX 75127 90%965$60,366$216,800$172 older residents
Morgan, TX 76671 90%1,078$53,715$190,300$167 Very close on everything we compare
Constantia, NY 13044 89%450$64,313$139,200$161 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Morrisdale, PA 16858 89%261$56,655$158,600$136 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Jumping Branch, WV 25969 89%72$60,250$182,300— Very close on everything we compare
Mathias, WV 26812 89%111$64,375$144,200$158 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Burlison, TN 38015 89%575$69,141$197,600$188 younger residents
Robards, KY 42452 89%428$80,069$173,300$183 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Londonderry, OH 45647 89%210$69,966$216,300$106 Very close on everything we compare
Holton, IN 47023 89%327$68,750$218,500$196 younger residents
Freetown, IN 47235 89%365$73,963$240,300$182 pricier homes ($42K more)
Brook Park, MN 55007 89%905$67,847$233,700$160 pricier homes ($35K more)
Floodwood, MN 55736 89%940$65,179$164,500$180 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older homes
Valles Mines, MO 63087 89%587$60,313$217,200$148 5 min shorter commute
Damascus, AR 72039 89%719$63,667$178,900$157 younger residents
New Creek, WV 26743 88%140$61,331$198,100$112 Very close on everything we compare
Luthersville, GA 30251 88%405$67,866$183,800$192 larger

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.