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 Mason, WV 25260

Mason: median income $49,167, home value $99,000, $118/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Medway, ME 04460 88%825$49,583$101,200$132 younger residents
Millinocket, ME 04462 87%819$51,527$112,900$135 larger
Tidioute, PA 16351 87%233$51,515$91,600$82 Very close on everything we compare
Horseshoe Bend, AR 72512 87%566$46,449$130,100$97 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
New Eagle, PA 15067 86%138$52,352$109,400$173 larger
Seward, PA 15954 86%187$43,958$81,800$111 larger
Normalville, PA 15469 85%157$56,301$140,100— pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
East Freedom, PA 16637 85%211$56,083$120,400$164 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Fairview, MI 48621 85%408$51,304$145,300$134 pricier homes ($46K more)
Laddonia, MO 63352 85%516$54,485$98,000$115 less walkable
Rich Square, NC 27869 84%320$43,301$115,200$113 less walkable
Bonnie, IL 62816 84%376$53,036$86,600$103 younger residents · less walkable
Wayne City, IL 62895 84%357$51,131$117,800— larger · younger residents · less walkable
Green Castle, MO 63544 84%583$44,167$109,400— less walkable
Tionesta, PA 16353 83%223$56,034$121,000$104 larger · 5 min longer commute
Roulette, PA 16746 83%279$51,125$94,400$80 5 min shorter commute
Barton, MD 21521 83%165$64,194$107,500$119 Very close on everything we compare
Kinston, AL 36453 83%588$54,485$108,900— larger · younger residents · less walkable
Rose City, MI 48654 83%389$45,202$140,800$145 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Pembine, WI 54156 83%548$49,625$129,300$172 pricier homes ($30K more) · less walkable
Mount Olive, IL 62069 83%414$59,764$102,700$109 larger · younger residents
Linesville, PA 16424 82%199$56,186$128,500$103 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · younger residents
Arma, KS 66712 82%694$53,281$82,700$131 Very close on everything we compare
Fulton, AR 71838 82%753$48,125$112,300— older residents · less walkable
Ashland, ME 04732 81%867$49,479$127,700$112 pricier homes ($29K more) · younger residents · less walkable

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.