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 Spencer, WV 25276

Spencer: median income $44,805, home value $110,300, $56/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fayette, AL 35555 92%505$47,020$119,300$74 younger residents
Elba, AL 36323 92%576$45,819$118,400$84 Very close on everything we compare
Eupora, MS 39744 92%573$44,548$121,100— younger residents
Westfield, PA 16950 91%295$52,009$123,600$58 smaller
Bruceton, TN 38317 91%425$41,545$116,100$53 smaller
Plymouth, NC 27962 90%324$41,774$114,500$83 Very close on everything we compare
Evergreen, AL 36401 89%597$40,792$105,000$82 Very close on everything we compare
Galliano, LA 70354 89%824$48,462$111,900$46 smaller
Opp, AL 36467 88%589$41,708$121,200$89 Very close on everything we compare
Butler, AL 36904 88%603$44,250$143,900— pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · younger residents
De Kalb, MS 39328 88%590$42,930$95,400— smaller · younger residents
Samson, AL 36477 87%595$50,517$115,400$81 smaller
Calhoun City, MS 38916 87%561$48,094$92,800$68 smaller · younger residents
Saltville, VA 24370 86%133$48,787$104,300$97 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, NC 27845 86%271$48,707$87,000— smaller
Red Bay, AL 35582 86%481$48,235$117,900$64 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Linden, AL 36748 86%577$42,826$93,700$64 smaller
Sharon, TN 38255 86%448$45,990$110,400$72 smaller
Wayne City, IL 62895 86%393$51,131$117,800— smaller
Eldorado, IL 62930 86%391$52,931$93,400$63 Very close on everything we compare
Bismarck, MO 63624 86%508$41,984$90,400$68 smaller · younger residents
Candor, NY 13743 85%353$51,364$164,900$66 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Axton, VA 24054 85%172$53,910$134,600$58 newer homes
Kinston, AL 36453 85%591$54,485$108,900— smaller
Kahoka, MO 63445 85%564$48,370$109,100$91 smaller

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.