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 25304

Charleston: median income $80,931, home value $233,500, $123/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elmira, NY 14905 83%361$90,825$174,100$118 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Fayetteville, NC 28305 83%270$78,148$260,900$175 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · more renters
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 83%587$74,703$206,900$128 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Whitesboro, NY 13492 82%467$82,173$207,900$192 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Dayton, OH 45429 82%167$80,210$238,700$166 larger · more walkable
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 81%226$81,540$219,500$158 larger · newer homes
South Bend, IN 46635 81%339$81,944$208,400$135 cheaper homes ($25K less) · newer homes
Lindsborg, KS 67456 81%869$82,409$205,500$102 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · younger residents
Corning, NY 14830 80%356$73,263$169,800$117 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Bluffton, OH 45817 80%215$76,848$210,100$173 Very close on everything we compare
Hancock, MI 49930 80%704$72,314$214,000$143 younger residents
Syracuse, NY 13224 79%435$76,500$218,900$197 more walkable
Vestal, NY 13850 79%392$83,403$194,100$153 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · newer homes
Big Flats, NY 14814 79%360$98,783$211,700$114 smaller · less walkable
Moosic, PA 18507 79%377$75,395$266,700$165 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Mobile, AL 36604 79%643$66,357$249,300$170 5 min longer commute
Clawson, MI 48017 79%303$88,812$267,500$208 pricier homes ($34K more) · 7 min longer commute
Decorah, IA 52101 79%635$73,484$273,200$172 pricier homes ($40K more) · newer homes
Clinton, NY 13323 78%461$78,224$244,600$193 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
New Hartford, NY 13413 78%465$95,261$240,400$206 larger · newer homes
Oberlin, OH 44074 78%208$80,801$234,200$151 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Green Bay, WI 54301 78%540$78,684$225,600$175 larger
Cleveland, OH 44126 77%216$79,269$239,000$200 larger · 8 min longer commute · more walkable
Dayton, OH 45432 77%166$83,115$183,300$168 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Kalamazoo, MI 49008 77%345$74,943$218,200$163 larger · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes

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.