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 Montgomery, WV 25136

Montgomery: median income $28,173, home value $126,100, $57/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Helena, AR 72342 80%575$36,905$97,200$58 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Mobile, AL 36603 73%643$26,879$109,100$68 larger · younger residents
Mound Bayou, MS 38762 73%603$27,000$95,400— cheaper homes ($31K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Tiptonville, TN 38079 72%464$27,500$119,900$92 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Gretna, FL 32332 71%556$31,917$81,800— cheaper homes ($44K less) · 9 min longer commute
Harlan, KY 40831 69%148$35,404$89,100$68 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more homeowners
Kensett, AR 72082 68%608$31,638$91,000$84 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Niland, CA 92257 67%1,944$22,611$102,200— older residents · 10 min longer commute · more homeowners
Ridgely, TN 38080 66%468$30,313$82,900$77 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · younger residents
Greensboro, AL 36744 65%516$30,518$136,100$69 larger · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Friars Point, MS 38631 65%581$29,583$84,300— cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · younger residents
Wisner, LA 71378 65%724$36,950$110,700— more homeowners · more single-family homes
Isola, MS 38754 64%622$38,173$84,300$58 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Tennille, GA 31089 63%374$36,094$99,300$87 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · younger residents
Edison, GA 39846 63%496$36,661$65,700— cheaper homes ($60K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Spearsville, LA 71277 63%728$26,686$80,200$68 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Dumas, AR 71639 63%640$37,173$85,700$44 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · younger residents
Fair Bluff, NC 28439 61%297$32,361$112,700$24 more homeowners
York, AL 36925 61%555$29,342$80,600— cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · more homeowners
Cumberland Gap, TN 37724 61%171$31,941$149,400$113 more homeowners · newer homes
Mamou, LA 70554 61%818$28,638$93,400$51 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · younger residents
Columbus, MS 39701 60%520$32,599$117,900$37 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Paintsville, KY 41240 60%84$38,041$148,000$106 larger · more homeowners
Charleston, MO 63834 60%447$41,348$114,000$67 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
White Castle, LA 70788 60%789$33,079$138,100$33 larger · younger residents · more homeowners

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.