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 Bristol, VA 24201

Bristol: median income $48,764, home value $176,500, $135/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mansfield, OH 44906 95%287$52,624$140,300$147 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Elkins, WV 26241 94%204$50,538$152,000$119 Very close on everything we compare
Canton, OH 44709 94%295$57,842$161,200$144 Very close on everything we compare
Las Vegas, NM 87701 94%1,285$49,920$182,200$147 Very close on everything we compare
Meadville, PA 16335 93%363$57,591$161,600$133 larger
Fairmont, MN 56031 93%808$54,847$179,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
Presque Isle, ME 04769 92%1,007$55,768$147,200$148 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Parkersburg, WV 26104 92%188$54,331$170,800$138 Very close on everything we compare
Greenville, OH 45331 92%275$53,801$166,200$129 Very close on everything we compare
Evansville, IN 47710 92%311$47,292$147,300$125 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Hot Springs National Park, AR 71901 92%622$53,514$190,500$152 larger
Paris, TN 38242 91%341$47,938$173,600$151 newer homes
Youngstown, OH 44515 91%319$53,252$151,400$148 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Brownwood, TX 76801 91%1,016$54,231$150,400$142 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
South Charleston, WV 25309 90%124$57,937$158,000$130 Very close on everything we compare
Beckley, WV 25801 90%97$56,836$158,900$112 larger
Gadsden, AL 35901 90%276$48,876$166,200$127 Very close on everything we compare
Biloxi, MS 39530 90%578$41,117$161,400$172 smaller
Cambridge, OH 43725 90%238$57,835$164,400$129 Very close on everything we compare
Coshocton, OH 43812 90%253$52,904$151,700$139 Very close on everything we compare
Bedford, OH 44146 90%332$54,925$155,000$146 larger
Essexville, MI 48732 90%491$57,903$169,600$133 Very close on everything we compare
Moberly, MO 65270 90%590$48,351$159,300$144 Very close on everything we compare
Wichita Falls, TX 76309 90%940$54,159$143,400$117 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Brady, TX 76825 90%1,052$53,665$148,800$122 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller

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.