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 Buena Vista, VA 24416

Buena Vista: median income $54,882, home value $158,600, $150/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tulsa, OK 74107 93%927$53,505$135,600$145 larger
Chickasha, OK 73018 91%1,050$56,484$141,400$122 larger
El Reno, OK 73036 91%1,041$59,915$172,500$142 larger
Brady, TX 76825 91%1,223$53,665$148,800$122 Very close on everything we compare
Clinton, SC 29325 90%266$60,259$177,400$126 larger
Canton, OH 44714 90%239$55,905$149,500$138 older homes
Hardin, MT 59034 90%1,548$60,726$169,800$140 smaller
Kansas City, MO 64138 90%823$58,638$188,400$142 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Temple, TX 76501 90%1,121$62,532$172,500$138 larger
Cayce, SC 29033 89%278$61,237$163,800$167 Very close on everything we compare
Huntsville, AL 35810 89%453$51,233$150,100$136 larger
Dayton, OH 45439 89%295$52,035$143,300$150 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64134 89%824$58,170$156,400$141 larger
Lamar, MO 64759 89%819$50,000$149,000$168 less walkable
Mexico, MO 65265 89%685$56,969$152,600$138 larger
Monett, MO 65708 89%802$57,827$179,700$148 Very close on everything we compare
Topeka, KS 66605 89%886$59,106$170,500$126 larger
North Little Rock, AR 72117 89%742$44,319$141,600$118 Very close on everything we compare
Bethany, OK 73008 89%1,024$57,459$173,200$139 larger
Pauls Valley, OK 73075 89%1,015$54,540$140,800$125 less walkable
Shawnee, OK 74801 89%991$55,077$137,900$119 larger
Poteau, OK 74953 89%867$56,341$185,700$136 pricier homes ($27K more)
Shinnston, WV 26431 88%125$61,023$149,900$120 Very close on everything we compare
Jasper, AL 35501 88%520$54,726$141,500$124 Very close on everything we compare
Gadsden, AL 35901 88%447$48,876$166,200$127 larger · less walkable

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.