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 Gate City, VA 24251

Gate City: median income $44,505, home value $159,100, $115/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ravenswood, WV 26164 96%166$45,104$137,300$142 Very close on everything we compare
Greensburg, KY 42743 96%166$49,457$136,400$130 Very close on everything we compare
Point Pleasant, WV 25550 95%156$49,497$144,600$112 Very close on everything we compare
Dresden, TN 38225 95%339$50,545$134,900$119 Very close on everything we compare
El Dorado Springs, MO 64744 95%632$47,685$167,900$118 Very close on everything we compare
Cabool, MO 65689 95%526$44,231$169,300$110 smaller
Winfield, AL 35594 94%347$44,732$156,900$124 Very close on everything we compare
Selmer, TN 38375 93%350$53,597$166,400$121 Very close on everything we compare
Austin, IN 47102 93%227$41,583$129,900$129 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Evart, MI 49631 93%520$47,174$132,300$148 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Camden, AL 36726 92%417$46,030$130,300$116 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Marion, KY 42064 92%307$47,107$126,000$100 cheaper homes ($33K less) · younger residents
Osceola, MO 64776 92%619$44,880$149,100$126 smaller
Stigler, OK 74462 92%705$49,293$167,000$113 newer homes
Linden, TX 75563 92%712$52,565$121,900$105 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Ripley, WV 25271 91%157$52,150$158,400$115 Very close on everything we compare
Johnston, SC 29832 91%200$42,500$130,600$127 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Spencer, TN 38585 91%169$48,015$152,700$123 smaller
Prudenville, MI 48651 91%539$43,712$164,800$176 smaller
Corunna, MI 48817 91%448$55,194$171,700$108 Very close on everything we compare
Piedmont, MO 63957 91%448$43,582$118,800$110 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Greenfield, MO 65661 91%621$46,170$151,200$113 smaller
Grafton, WV 26354 90%233$52,742$136,200$107 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeport, AL 35740 90%211$46,148$141,900$134 smaller
Elba, AL 36323 90%412$45,819$118,400$84 cheaper homes ($41K less)

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.