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 Charleston, WV 25302

Charleston: median income $55,210, home value $155,300, $93/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Massena, NY 13662 91%568$59,106$119,400$115 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Warren, PA 16365 91%270$59,206$122,500$90 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Carbondale, PA 18407 91%390$59,652$162,800$108 Very close on everything we compare
Seneca Falls, NY 13148 90%400$65,313$149,300$124 Very close on everything we compare
Altoona, PA 16602 90%224$55,046$125,700$93 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Virginia, MN 55792 90%838$53,750$129,500$87 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Benson, MN 56215 90%862$56,604$167,500$99 smaller
Winfield, KS 67156 90%843$58,821$153,300$90 younger residents · newer homes
Keokuk, IA 52632 89%542$56,653$118,700$79 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Hibbing, MN 55746 89%846$55,823$134,600$116 Very close on everything we compare
Beatrice, NE 68310 89%819$60,928$168,000$118 Very close on everything we compare
Oneida, NY 13421 88%448$65,752$162,000$136 Very close on everything we compare
Binghamton, NY 13903 88%393$66,278$157,500$116 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, PA 15074 88%175$54,063$145,400$106 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Meadville, PA 16335 88%236$57,591$161,600$133 larger
Clearfield, PA 16830 88%246$58,304$130,300$110 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Pittston, PA 18643 88%367$63,125$174,500$128 Very close on everything we compare
Sayre, PA 18840 88%364$59,214$171,300$136 younger residents
Marion, IN 46952 88%265$52,880$146,700$111 Very close on everything we compare
Iowa Falls, IA 50126 88%676$55,185$133,300$104 smaller
Fairmont, MN 56031 88%761$54,847$179,300$111 newer homes
Independence, KS 67301 88%775$54,950$120,000$96 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents
Elmira, NY 14903 87%357$67,012$129,400$127 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Greenville, PA 16125 87%217$54,787$150,200$67 Very close on everything we compare
Altoona, PA 16601 87%224$58,070$147,200$88 larger · younger residents

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.