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 Marlinton, WV 24954

Marlinton: median income $37,899, home value $144,000, $109/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Thayer, MO 65791 91%639$42,470$100,500$104 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Bayboro, NC 28515 90%284$31,715$157,700$106 Very close on everything we compare
Ash Flat, AR 72513 90%650$40,055$98,100$137 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Osceola, MO 64776 89%741$44,880$149,100$126 6 min longer commute
Winona, MO 65588 89%619$44,500$155,900$158 Very close on everything we compare
Cabool, MO 65689 89%661$44,231$169,300$110 pricier homes ($25K more) · younger residents
Shaw, MS 38773 88%678$30,661$110,400— cheaper homes ($34K less)
Salem, AR 72576 88%659$39,812$110,600$114 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Van Lear, KY 41265 87%146$35,833$157,400$105 smaller
Burnside, KY 42519 87%259$41,964$136,200$113 5 min longer commute
Talihina, OK 74571 87%861$41,105$125,400$142 Very close on everything we compare
Gate City, VA 24251 86%177$44,505$159,100$115 larger · 5 min longer commute
Independence, VA 24348 86%127$44,829$155,500$173 larger
Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579 86%56$45,944$165,600$120 smaller
Jamestown, KY 42629 86%287$36,484$168,100$140 larger · newer homes
Horse Cave, KY 42749 86%324$45,500$142,200$152 more renters
Kahoka, MO 63445 86%638$48,370$109,100$91 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Horseshoe Bend, AR 72512 86%656$46,449$130,100$97 7 min longer commute
Chase City, VA 23924 85%135$44,291$146,900$122 larger · more renters
Grundy, VA 24614 85%128$41,328$116,000$91 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Bridgeport, AL 35740 85%387$46,148$141,900$134 younger residents
Camden, AL 36726 85%593$46,030$130,300$116 larger · 6 min longer commute
Austin, IN 47102 85%310$41,583$129,900$129 larger · younger residents
Evart, MI 49631 85%473$47,174$132,300$148 larger
Watseka, IL 60970 85%442$46,688$119,900$85 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.