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 Wirtz, VA 24184

Wirtz: median income $68,909, home value $228,100, $226/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ten Mile, TN 37880 96%289$65,208$215,900$258 Very close on everything we compare
Petersburg, TN 37144 93%403$64,620$238,100$193 smaller
Albrightsville, PA 18210 92%350$70,683$231,600$210 larger
Rock Creek, OH 44084 92%322$73,288$209,700$227 younger residents
Greentown, PA 18426 91%379$63,219$272,300$218 pricier homes ($44K more) · older homes
Taylorsville, GA 30178 91%357$68,916$320,300$208 pricier homes ($92K more)
Augusta, WV 26704 90%166$74,314$230,100$194 6 min longer commute
Hurdle Mills, NC 27541 90%68$75,305$237,000$202 Very close on everything we compare
Isle, MN 56342 90%944$63,295$246,500$269 smaller · older homes
Streetman, TX 75859 90%1,006$75,139$231,300$184 smaller
Coldspring, TX 77331 90%986$62,321$246,200$162 larger
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 89%191$71,349$241,000$204 larger
New London, NC 28127 89%117$69,125$255,800$244 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Arley, AL 35541 89%466$57,143$190,300$269 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Ardmore, TN 38449 89%422$62,083$263,500$173 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · younger residents
Fife Lake, MI 49633 89%592$73,681$189,700$225 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older homes
Thornton, TX 76687 89%1,032$73,323$254,500$326 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Saint Albans, ME 04971 88%764$65,600$194,000$244 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Crouse, NC 28033 88%144$78,458$224,000$234 Very close on everything we compare
Rising Fawn, GA 30738 88%357$66,080$284,700$224 pricier homes ($57K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Lacygne, KS 66040 88%847$56,323$174,300$227 cheaper homes ($54K less) · younger residents
Kunkletown, PA 18058 87%350$73,041$264,000$188 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · older homes
Westfield, NC 27053 87%54$67,974$224,500$180 older homes
Cunningham, TN 37052 87%427$69,423$224,300$211 smaller
Laurelville, OH 43135 87%231$72,823$222,500$227 younger residents

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.