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 Narrows, VA 24124

Narrows: median income $62,854, home value $116,500, $158/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cattaraugus, NY 14719 94%362$62,188$115,100$147 Very close on everything we compare
Bayard, NE 69334 93%1,231$62,232$126,100$133 smaller
Hudson, MI 49247 91%364$59,787$150,100$126 pricier homes ($34K more)
Osawatomie, KS 66064 91%773$67,321$172,100$164 pricier homes ($56K more)
Troy, KS 66087 91%790$56,875$127,300$133 smaller
Eaton, IN 47338 90%320$68,239$111,100$151 smaller
Hagerstown, IN 47346 90%294$70,000$144,300$114 pricier homes ($28K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Burton, MI 48509 90%420$64,160$135,800$134 larger · older residents
New Athens, IL 62264 90%497$57,015$127,400$163 Very close on everything we compare
Collins, NY 14034 89%373$62,412$151,200$134 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Rayland, OH 43943 89%200$54,784$135,500$125 older residents
Payne, OH 45880 89%333$69,500$124,700$140 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Shirley, IN 47384 89%309$74,167$158,300$152 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Bronson, MI 49028 89%389$60,127$152,300$187 pricier homes ($36K more)
Stoneboro, PA 16153 88%281$63,750$149,300— pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Edgerton, OH 43517 88%352$58,578$136,500$134 6 min shorter commute
Ansonia, OH 45303 88%286$65,556$134,100$146 smaller
Camden, IN 46917 88%379$61,643$143,900$132 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Winslow, IN 47598 88%355$68,601$106,900$114 Very close on everything we compare
Lyons, MI 48851 88%445$65,726$158,000$137 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Mechanicsville, IA 52306 88%638$61,875$167,500$140 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller
Red Creek, NY 13143 87%463$61,674$115,800$206 smaller
Cohocton, NY 14826 87%400$69,464$132,300$136 smaller · older residents
East Canton, OH 44730 87%241$70,232$154,200$168 pricier homes ($38K more) · 5 min shorter commute
North Judson, IN 46366 87%415$60,182$136,500$145 newer homes

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.