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.

Reset

Towns most like Ivanhoe, VA 24350

Ivanhoe: median income $54,219, home value $97,400, $208/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kennerdell, PA 16374 91%315$57,829$128,800$171 pricier homes ($31K more)
Frenchville, PA 16836 91%330$62,841$131,700$210 pricier homes ($34K more)
Mammoth, AZ 85618 91%1,700$51,953$102,500— Very close on everything we compare
Mahaffey, PA 15757 89%305$56,176$105,600— older homes
Grand Marsh, WI 53936 88%669$55,515$137,500$154 pricier homes ($40K more)
West Salem, IL 62476 88%402$65,543$91,800— Very close on everything we compare
Boomer, NC 28606 87%57$56,600$95,900$195 larger · younger residents
Woodbury, GA 30293 85%336$59,365$119,900$181 larger · younger residents
Rockford, AL 35136 85%404$50,114$140,300$154 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · younger residents
Scottown, OH 45678 85%145$62,992$84,000— younger residents
Arkdale, WI 54613 85%684$51,528$172,400$232 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger
Austin, PA 16720 84%366$49,479$99,900$199 younger residents
Duck, WV 25063 84%120$61,731$136,500$158 pricier homes ($39K more)
Gruetli Laager, TN 37339 84%278$49,063$148,300$167 pricier homes ($51K more) · younger residents
Irons, MI 49644 84%566$54,013$175,400$175 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger
Cookson, OK 74427 84%779$50,089$123,100$173 pricier homes ($26K more)
Winkelman, AZ 85192 84%1,702$59,922$161,800— pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Richford, NY 13835 83%461$66,620$103,000$160 5 min shorter commute
Sidney Center, NY 13839 83%481$54,271$121,300$161 younger residents
Nunnelly, TN 37137 83%369$55,893$153,800$208 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · newer homes
Big Clifty, KY 42712 83%288$45,870$147,400$175 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Branch, MI 49402 83%558$51,324$169,800$239 pricier homes ($72K more) · 6 min longer commute
Tamms, IL 62988 83%458$54,779$65,800— cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents
Proctor, AR 72376 83%532$50,347$117,000$171 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Avinger, TX 75630 83%818$49,677$156,300$166 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger

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.