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 Athens, WV 24712

Athens: median income $80,625, home value $213,800, $167/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Riesel, TX 76682 82%995$84,148$197,400$151 older residents
Pattersonville, NY 12137 79%521$83,879$271,500$231 pricier homes ($58K more) · older residents
Clark, MO 65243 79%627$68,021$208,200$191 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Smyrna, SC 29743 78%167$86,064$242,500$186 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · older residents
Thorndike, ME 04986 77%785$71,833$184,500$163 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Windsor, OH 44099 77%285$92,895$210,000$164 smaller · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Elon, NC 27244 76%123$75,323$278,000$174 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
De Mossville, KY 41033 76%211$100,260$216,300$179 older residents
Upland, IN 46989 75%320$82,074$219,400$125 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Dieterich, IL 62424 75%417$84,635$225,800$142 older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Eden, MD 21822 74%297$84,479$277,700$189 pricier homes ($64K more) · older residents
Ararat, NC 27007 74%76$77,163$216,200$202 older residents
Monroe, IN 46772 74%306$80,000$241,600$130 pricier homes ($28K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Cortland, IL 60112 74%513$72,831$229,900$183 larger · older residents · newer homes
Capron, IL 61012 74%535$98,594$172,000$172 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents
Loami, IL 62661 74%503$80,833$180,300— cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · older residents
Henley, MO 65040 74%620$89,167$225,800$190 smaller · older residents
Aaronsburg, PA 16820 73%305$83,900$263,600— pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Loganton, PA 17747 73%317$71,731$208,000$176 older residents · more single-family homes
Gambier, OH 43022 73%217$94,712$315,900$209 pricier homes ($102K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Lizton, IN 46149 73%344$88,750$247,800$179 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Ririe, ID 83443 73%1,649$65,590$247,700$180 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · older residents
Clymer, NY 14724 72%327$83,063$172,900$159 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Caledonia, MS 39740 72%486$83,240$189,900$143 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Butler, OH 44822 72%228$72,159$245,700$135 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute

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.