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 Altavista, VA 24517

Altavista: median income $53,201, home value $145,200, $151/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spencer, OK 73084 96%1,010$54,375$141,600$148 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsfield, ME 04967 93%738$57,381$164,100$143 Very close on everything we compare
Skowhegan, ME 04976 93%727$53,534$165,000$158 larger
Crisfield, MD 21817 93%198$55,720$161,000$112 Very close on everything we compare
Belpre, OH 45714 93%195$56,574$166,200$148 larger
Brady, TX 76825 93%1,215$53,665$148,800$122 5 min shorter commute
San Saba, TX 76877 93%1,183$53,500$165,400$164 newer homes
Pocomoke City, MD 21851 92%215$53,162$206,700$176 pricier homes ($62K more)
Elkin, NC 28621 92%104$53,616$159,000$171 larger
Fort Wayne, IN 46819 92%413$63,947$168,100$152 larger
Sullivan, IN 47882 92%462$57,637$154,800$119 larger
Covington, IN 47932 92%483$59,811$182,400$134 pricier homes ($37K more)
Horicon, WI 53032 92%658$56,085$189,000$165 pricier homes ($44K more)
Dupo, IL 62239 92%603$61,191$111,400$123 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Bowling Green, MO 63334 92%663$54,638$159,800$151 larger
Butler, MO 64730 92%824$49,883$165,400$144 Very close on everything we compare
Morrilton, AR 72110 92%761$51,658$162,900$130 larger
Sharpsville, PA 16150 91%293$56,334$148,200$147 Very close on everything we compare
Philipsburg, PA 16866 91%266$49,968$150,300$125 larger
Shinnston, WV 26431 91%166$61,023$149,900$120 younger residents
Weston, WV 26452 91%147$51,695$128,300$111 larger
Dresden, TN 38225 91%524$50,545$134,900$119 Very close on everything we compare
Huntingdon, TN 38344 91%512$54,395$151,800$133 larger
Ackerman, MS 39735 91%617$51,820$147,600— Very close on everything we compare
Princeton, KY 42445 91%472$55,096$118,100$132 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 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.