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 Austinville, VA 24312

Austinville: median income $48,235, home value $162,200, $121/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Branchville, SC 29432 88%246$54,826$157,900$107 more homeowners
Grand Rivers, KY 42045 87%409$50,549$157,800$90 older residents · more homeowners
Adams, WI 53910 87%679$49,875$139,900$136 larger
Racine, OH 45771 86%160$43,750$148,200$138 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Reedsville, OH 45772 86%169$52,064$120,700$110 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more homeowners
Cobbtown, GA 30420 85%323$40,563$128,300$102 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Big Sandy, TN 38221 85%402$52,714$139,100$174 larger
Danville, WV 25053 84%102$58,667$152,900$100 larger
Jellico, TN 37762 84%182$42,392$143,000$110 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Plantersville, MS 38862 84%473$52,750$135,600$104 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Milltown, WI 54858 84%852$53,901$213,100$114 pricier homes ($51K more) · more homeowners
Maringouin, LA 70757 84%753$51,707$162,100$87 more homeowners
Bull Shoals, AR 72619 84%651$45,042$161,600$134 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Mifflin, PA 17058 83%319$49,125$201,800— pricier homes ($40K more) · younger residents
Walkersville, WV 26447 83%142$64,688$207,900— pricier homes ($46K more)
Belhaven, NC 27810 83%254$51,277$173,900$187 larger · more homeowners
Washington, GA 30673 83%239$51,748$136,400$154 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Waldo, FL 32694 83%492$43,537$124,200$177 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more homeowners
Courtland, AL 35618 83%391$50,750$104,000$110 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Steelville, MO 65565 83%578$50,277$163,400$148 larger · younger residents
Jessieville, AR 71949 83%698$50,750$158,800$126 more homeowners · newer homes
Webbers Falls, OK 74470 83%802$51,250$125,000$127 cheaper homes ($37K less) · more homeowners
Sandy Creek, NY 13145 82%534$60,625$142,200$142 7 min shorter commute
Cope, SC 29038 82%238$43,563$157,700$134 more homeowners
Columbia, NC 27925 81%265$41,522$161,100$123 larger · more homeowners

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.