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.

Reset

Towns most like Charleston, WV 25306

Charleston: median income $71,654, home value $109,800, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cuba, NY 14727 90%318$63,257$108,000$107 Very close on everything we compare
Sparta, IL 62286 90%444$61,220$117,800$94 Very close on everything we compare
Groton, NY 13073 89%401$71,452$167,600$137 pricier homes ($58K more)
Canisteo, NY 14823 88%343$63,140$118,800$91 smaller
Calvert City, KY 42029 88%385$64,083$154,100$117 pricier homes ($44K more)
Gwinn, MI 49841 88%630$60,568$166,800$180 pricier homes ($57K more)
Waterloo, NY 13165 87%400$59,981$121,600$125 larger · older homes
Greene, NY 13778 87%413$73,850$161,800$132 pricier homes ($52K more) · younger residents
Vicksburg, MS 39183 87%665$73,946$157,300$118 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Dupo, IL 62239 87%470$61,191$111,400$123 Very close on everything we compare
Alto, TX 75925 87%895$60,811$105,200$69 smaller
Keeseville, NY 12944 86%597$72,207$141,700$121 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Troy, NC 27371 86%222$63,516$164,300$186 pricier homes ($55K more)
Pinetops, NC 27864 86%277$64,201$124,400$132 newer homes
Hamilton, AL 35570 86%462$63,639$118,800$112 larger
Hartford, KY 42347 86%300$60,900$134,500$146 younger residents
De Soto, IL 62924 86%420$70,357$103,000$65 smaller · younger residents
Monroe City, MO 63456 86%555$64,160$161,200$116 pricier homes ($51K more) · younger residents
Weedsport, NY 13166 85%418$78,108$160,200$169 pricier homes ($50K more)
Norwich, NY 13815 85%430$61,469$133,900$113 larger
Watkins Glen, NY 14891 85%371$61,875$164,700$184 pricier homes ($55K more) · older homes
North Tazewell, VA 24630 85%79$57,254$107,100$96 Very close on everything we compare
Steubenville, OH 43953 85%148$74,107$149,700$167 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · older residents
Rockport, IN 47635 85%303$66,286$166,700$110 pricier homes ($57K more)
Saginaw, MI 48638 85%377$69,459$172,600$113 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger

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.