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 25387

Charleston: median income $43,063, home value $91,400, $122/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Farrell, PA 16121 97%207$42,595$87,800— Very close on everything we compare
Masury, OH 44438 96%207$40,877$82,400$144 Very close on everything we compare
Campbell, OH 44405 92%196$42,644$82,600$118 larger · 5 min longer commute
Centerville, IA 52544 90%621$50,572$116,900$119 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Creve Coeur, IL 61610 89%453$47,993$85,500$102 more homeowners
Pana, IL 62557 89%408$51,389$88,900$91 Very close on everything we compare
Coffeyville, KS 67337 89%770$51,500$75,000$106 larger
Canton, OH 44710 87%169$47,305$104,600$110 larger · younger residents
Dayton, OH 45416 87%173$46,174$81,100$92 6 min longer commute
Horton, KS 66439 87%751$53,348$90,800$110 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Hamilton, TX 76531 87%1,038$49,100$126,300$111 pricier homes ($35K more)
Sweetwater, TX 79556 87%1,129$49,393$94,900$111 larger
Las Animas, CO 81054 87%1,164$48,398$134,100$109 pricier homes ($43K more) · 6 min longer commute
Marienville, PA 16239 86%253$52,121$107,400$100 newer homes
Moss Point, MS 39563 86%673$44,243$110,300$95 larger · newer homes
Burton, MI 48529 86%337$41,333$86,700$113 larger · 6 min longer commute
Carnegie, OK 73015 86%963$46,806$97,500$104 smaller · newer homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73111 86%896$40,340$120,700$111 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Seymour, TX 76380 86%1,037$45,880$103,100$115 older residents
Gadsden, AL 35904 85%387$43,771$117,700$105 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Vickery, OH 43464 85%221$41,471$124,100$110 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Struthers, OH 44471 85%195$54,571$106,300$128 larger · 5 min longer commute
Springfield, OH 45506 85%160$42,104$107,300$102 larger
Hampton, IA 50441 85%679$49,910$127,100$102 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Trenton, MO 64683 85%652$52,109$110,000$78 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.