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 Fries, VA 24330

Fries: median income $47,478, home value $128,600, $172/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rayland, OH 43943 93%241$54,784$135,500$125 Very close on everything we compare
Mendon, OH 45862 93%332$45,556$108,200$158 smaller
Eagle Bend, MN 56446 90%974$56,979$151,500$193 smaller
New Athens, IL 62264 90%498$57,015$127,400$163 5 min shorter commute
Mayport, PA 16240 89%309$58,281$142,400$135 smaller
Springport, MI 49284 89%438$57,500$153,200$142 Very close on everything we compare
Troy, KS 66087 89%795$56,875$127,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
Hominy, OK 74035 89%853$47,833$108,300$125 Very close on everything we compare
Irvona, PA 16656 88%311$48,071$101,200— cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Cattaraugus, NY 14719 87%404$62,188$115,100$147 Very close on everything we compare
Rossiter, PA 15772 87%308$62,727$133,700$164 smaller
Petrolia, PA 16050 87%306$56,708$132,700$123 smaller
Pittsford, MI 49271 87%402$56,389$147,300$141 7 min shorter commute
Mechanicsville, IA 52306 87%655$61,875$167,500$140 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Great Falls, SC 29055 86%149$37,401$107,400$132 Very close on everything we compare
Risingsun, OH 43457 86%340$54,583$153,800— pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Philo, OH 43771 86%221$52,708$153,100$147 Very close on everything we compare
Collins, NY 14034 85%415$62,412$151,200$134 Very close on everything we compare
Wolcott, NY 14590 85%501$55,682$107,700$221 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Parker, PA 16049 85%311$62,650$132,800$226 Very close on everything we compare
Peachland, NC 28133 85%125$46,549$188,800$153 pricier homes ($60K more)
Camden, IN 46917 85%400$61,643$143,900$132 smaller
Austin, PA 16720 84%373$49,479$99,900$199 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older residents
West Union, WV 26456 84%177$58,000$164,400— pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Mannington, WV 26582 84%196$52,083$100,700$119 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older 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.