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 Foster, WV 25081

Foster: median income $108,125, home value $166,700, $138/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Roaring Branch, PA 17765 86%351$88,553$201,000— pricier homes ($34K more)
Island, KY 42350 83%298$103,875$168,000$125 older homes
Braceville, IL 60407 82%408$89,792$191,000$126 larger · younger residents
Hastings, NY 13076 81%467$95,889$176,400$148 larger · younger residents
Lenzburg, IL 62255 81%436$80,506$160,800$136 lower income ($28K less) · older homes
Bradford, ME 04410 80%819$82,955$176,200$163 lower income ($25K less)
Williams, IN 47470 80%267$90,750$189,100$145 larger · younger residents
Wheeler, WI 54772 80%711$88,750$182,100$191 younger residents
Clarington, OH 43915 79%126$74,405$140,300$134 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($26K less)
Brighton, MO 65617 79%634$76,488$208,700$141 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Braithwaite, LA 70040 79%742$83,649$159,100$124 less walkable
Spring Run, PA 17262 78%261$87,708$221,800$169 pricier homes ($55K more) · older homes
Woodleaf, NC 27054 78%171$92,560$212,300$182 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Windthorst, TX 76389 78%983$98,750$229,200$122 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · younger residents
Exeter, ME 04435 77%807$84,408$166,700$202 older residents · less walkable
Chatom, AL 36518 77%586$87,768$168,500$131 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Shellsburg, IA 52332 77%601$92,708$198,000$155 pricier homes ($31K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Paragon, IN 46166 76%275$86,042$157,500$144 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Sumner, TX 75486 76%833$92,460$208,400$175 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Foster, KY 41043 75%137$87,695$211,800$160 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · younger residents
Clarksburg, OH 43115 75%122$94,265$156,700$121 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Belmont, OH 43718 75%140$92,576$228,000$146 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
San Pierre, IN 46374 75%347$91,250$226,900$132 pricier homes ($60K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Marysville, IN 47141 75%213$108,523$222,700— pricier homes ($56K more) · more renters · less walkable
Slaughter, LA 70777 75%734$85,550$247,000$136 pricier homes ($80K more) · 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.