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 Staunton, VA 24401

Staunton: median income $66,300, home value $278,600, $220/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oak Ridge, TN 37830 94%322$72,269$270,900$191 Very close on everything we compare
Kingsport, TN 37664 93%221$63,653$240,000$180 cheaper homes ($39K less)
North Tonawanda, NY 14120 92%338$74,871$222,500$215 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Wooster, OH 44691 92%239$69,920$230,300$182 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 92%790$75,809$283,500$188 newer homes
Washington, PA 15301 91%153$70,473$206,800$172 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Hickory, NC 28601 91%208$67,817$261,600$183 newer homes
Dover, OH 44622 91%209$70,780$223,600$179 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Troy, OH 45373 91%305$75,742$253,400$168 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Waterford, MI 48328 91%383$72,299$222,900$195 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Beaver Dam, WI 53916 91%628$71,188$220,300$190 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Lebanon, PA 17042 90%207$74,831$237,300$186 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Mount Vernon, OH 43050 90%239$64,108$220,300$168 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Leavenworth, KS 66048 90%858$72,734$219,100$150 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Bellefonte, PA 16823 89%201$76,245$272,800$188 Very close on everything we compare
Waynesville, NC 28786 89%284$59,371$297,800$245 smaller · older residents
Frankfort, KY 40601 89%315$65,732$216,700$163 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Massillon, OH 44646 89%225$69,179$196,400$161 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Council Bluffs, IA 51503 89%915$79,010$262,300$155 Very close on everything we compare
Delavan, WI 53115 89%590$72,304$251,900$234 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Metairie, LA 70003 89%850$76,261$261,000$166 more homeowners
Casper, WY 82601 89%1,461$67,642$249,100$174 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Lockport, NY 14094 88%346$75,427$197,200$179 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Butler, PA 16001 88%194$63,635$199,100$156 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Danville, PA 17821 88%234$76,971$249,500$164 cheaper homes ($29K 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.