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 Welch, WV 24801

Welch: median income $29,330, home value $57,800, $93/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Youngstown, OH 44509 83%258$36,570$57,900$84 larger
Appalachia, VA 24216 76%75$37,795$53,800$61 smaller · older residents
Temple, OK 73568 76%957$29,737$55,000$84 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Ecorse, MI 48229 75%343$40,264$65,400$90 larger · younger residents
Haynesville, LA 71038 75%719$25,958$83,200$83 pricier homes ($25K more) · 8 min longer commute · newer homes
Gould, AR 71643 75%607$32,899$45,000— newer homes
Pennington Gap, VA 24277 73%92$31,737$86,200$92 pricier homes ($28K more) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Masury, OH 44438 73%268$40,877$82,400$144 Very close on everything we compare
Canton, OH 44704 73%233$31,812$54,300$80 younger residents · more renters · more walkable
York, AL 36925 72%510$29,342$80,600— smaller · older residents · newer homes
Ferriday, LA 71334 72%693$34,804$81,300$105 larger · newer homes
Warren, OH 44485 71%266$35,195$74,900$110 larger · 7 min longer commute · more renters
Saginaw, MI 48601 71%430$38,900$62,800$79 larger
Cottage Hills, IL 62018 71%473$40,438$70,200$150 newer homes
Homer, LA 71040 71%722$31,678$79,600$101 larger · 8 min longer commute · newer homes
Dermott, AR 71638 71%616$31,667$61,900— smaller · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Evarts, KY 40828 70%99$41,354$62,200$86 newer homes
Campbell, OH 44405 70%257$42,644$82,600$118 larger
Commerce, OK 74339 70%732$34,970$72,900— smaller · younger residents · newer homes
Salamanca, NY 14779 69%360$42,593$85,900$104 pricier homes ($28K more) · older homes
Birmingham, AL 35224 69%405$42,639$80,000$76 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Marianna, AR 72360 69%545$22,574$68,800— more renters · newer homes
Grandfield, OK 73546 69%982$33,846$60,500$67 smaller · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Marlin, TX 76661 69%969$41,056$66,700$78 larger · newer homes
Tulia, TX 79088 69%1,145$35,804$82,800$57 pricier homes ($25K more) · younger residents

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.