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 Peterstown, WV 24963

Peterstown: median income $55,179, home value $145,700, $107/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Varysburg, NY 14167 91%390$67,132$150,000— smaller
Morrisdale, PA 16858 91%282$56,655$158,600$136 Very close on everything we compare
Taylor, AR 71861 90%774$58,150$118,500$138 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Kinsman, OH 44428 89%278$59,375$166,400$129 older homes
Moscow, OH 45153 88%211$57,176$226,100— pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller
Yorktown, TX 78164 88%1,127$67,578$171,300$101 pricier homes ($26K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Harrisville, NY 13648 87%546$60,735$118,200$126 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Clearville, PA 15535 87%210$57,212$205,200$143 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Mapleton Depot, PA 17052 87%255$67,115$133,900$101 smaller
Ethelsville, AL 35461 87%502$47,375$174,400— pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Shoals, IN 47581 87%338$59,776$139,600$111 7 min shorter commute
Bentley, MI 48613 87%483$58,846$160,900— smaller
Frederic, MI 49733 87%552$66,318$147,700$118 smaller · newer homes
Marquand, MO 63655 87%516$61,469$175,600$115 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Ararat, VA 24053 86%57$63,646$171,900— pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
Palmer, TN 37365 86%302$54,907$130,600$152 smaller
Owenton, KY 40359 86%232$62,542$169,700$139 larger
Mayville, MI 48744 86%433$67,944$159,800$162 Very close on everything we compare
Luther, MI 49656 86%526$56,656$135,500$138 smaller
New Boston, IL 61272 86%606$64,167$145,900$110 smaller · younger residents
Plymouth, IL 62367 86%584$58,000$126,700— smaller · younger residents
Palmyra, IL 62674 86%520$55,417$99,600$94 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Milano, TX 76556 86%1,029$52,328$153,800— smaller · newer homes
Cherry Tree, PA 15724 85%253$67,500$110,100$102 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · older residents
Casar, NC 28020 85%140$59,978$188,700$115 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · 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.