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 Covington, VA 24426

Covington: median income $55,138, home value $115,500, $121/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Moundsville, WV 26041 94%153$54,419$144,700$109 pricier homes ($29K more)
Montpelier, OH 43543 94%361$56,236$136,700$128 smaller
Gas City, IN 46933 94%354$56,786$120,700$125 smaller
Hillsboro, IL 62049 94%522$55,446$127,600$96 smaller
Taylorville, IL 62568 94%517$62,718$123,700$109 Very close on everything we compare
Nitro, WV 25143 93%109$53,205$128,600$108 smaller
East Palestine, OH 44413 93%214$50,999$122,600$119 smaller
Bucyrus, OH 44820 93%263$58,223$141,400$132 pricier homes ($26K more)
Antigo, WI 54409 93%694$53,576$123,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
Rock Falls, IL 61071 93%584$60,508$102,300$109 Very close on everything we compare
Mountain Grove, MO 65711 93%675$50,663$110,300$144 smaller
Toronto, OH 43964 92%189$60,365$132,800$135 smaller
Girard, OH 44420 92%237$61,707$121,100$122 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, IN 46975 92%403$61,185$157,600$145 pricier homes ($42K more)
Caro, MI 48723 92%432$55,779$138,100$133 Very close on everything we compare
Estherville, IA 51334 92%868$57,482$112,000$111 smaller
Du Quoin, IL 62832 92%504$59,652$100,300$97 smaller
Saint Albans, WV 25177 91%108$55,046$139,900$116 larger
Lanett, AL 36863 91%450$51,130$111,400$118 Very close on everything we compare
Flatwoods, KY 41139 91%157$59,034$112,700$110 smaller · younger residents
Kenton, OH 43326 91%277$63,785$153,200$127 pricier homes ($38K more)
Bryan, OH 43506 91%353$60,234$162,000$132 pricier homes ($47K more)
Mansfield, OH 44905 91%246$57,955$117,200$153 younger residents
Hartford City, IN 47348 91%343$50,426$109,500$113 smaller
Bad Axe, MI 48413 91%445$58,346$156,000$115 pricier homes ($41K more) · 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.