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.

Reset

Towns most like Madison, WV 25130

Madison: median income $53,294, home value $95,900, $76/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Louisiana, MO 63353 94%509$46,875$95,700$72 Very close on everything we compare
Albany, MO 64402 94%688$54,444$111,900— Very close on everything we compare
Kahoka, MO 63445 93%556$48,370$109,100$91 Very close on everything we compare
Sparta, IL 62286 92%430$61,220$117,800$94 larger
Lawrenceville, IL 62439 92%322$53,622$100,600$82 larger
Harrisburg, IL 62946 92%369$51,566$97,300$85 larger
Youngsville, PA 16371 91%294$57,514$116,600$57 Very close on everything we compare
Watseka, IL 60970 91%369$46,688$119,900$85 larger
Refugio, TX 78377 91%1,117$49,974$97,000$87 Very close on everything we compare
Van Horn, TX 79855 91%1,393$58,910$79,300— smaller
Clayton, NM 88415 91%1,179$44,952$120,800$77 Very close on everything we compare
Rolling Fork, MS 39159 90%623$45,995$110,700$71 Very close on everything we compare
Wheaton, MN 56296 90%924$53,527$103,800$73 smaller
Fairfield, IL 62837 90%357$50,536$103,900$91 larger
Trenton, MO 64683 90%649$52,109$110,000$78 larger
Appleton City, MO 64724 90%664$49,338$115,600$86 smaller
Smackover, AR 71762 90%694$50,577$106,400$67 newer homes
Pana, IL 62557 89%405$51,389$88,900$91 larger
Mount Carmel, IL 62863 89%326$55,916$105,500$72 larger
Eldorado, IL 62930 89%363$52,931$93,400$63 larger · 5 min longer commute
Milan, MO 63556 89%625$58,851$124,100$107 pricier homes ($28K more)
Columbus, KS 66725 89%719$48,443$105,000$73 Very close on everything we compare
De Witt, AR 72042 89%592$55,679$127,500$67 pricier homes ($32K more)
Pawhuska, OK 74056 89%802$47,311$131,000$106 pricier homes ($35K more)
Quanah, TX 79252 89%1,033$62,228$84,600$62 Very close on everything we compare

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.