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 Paw Paw, WV 25434

Paw Paw: median income $64,487, home value $207,500, $254/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Capac, MI 48014 94%337$66,800$217,900$180 Very close on everything we compare
Laurelville, OH 43135 93%227$72,823$222,500$227 Very close on everything we compare
Rock Creek, OH 44084 93%196$73,288$209,700$227 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Kenney, VA 23872 92%177$75,913$215,200$213 Very close on everything we compare
Willow River, MN 55795 92%864$68,750$223,600$213 smaller
Harwood, TX 78632 92%1,274$62,500$187,400$214 smaller
Vanleer, TN 37181 91%540$78,625$215,500$259 smaller
Copemish, MI 49625 91%512$52,583$182,300$224 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Ethel, LA 70730 91%931$64,977$254,600$212 pricier homes ($47K more)
Shoshone, ID 83352 91%1,868$70,057$259,500$202 pricier homes ($52K more) · younger residents
Windsor, ME 04363 90%564$63,178$228,800$247 Very close on everything we compare
West Sunbury, PA 16061 90%128$74,464$197,400— Very close on everything we compare
Edgemoor, SC 29712 90%353$62,656$208,900$224 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Molena, GA 30258 90%559$58,777$262,500$228 pricier homes ($55K more)
Maysville, GA 30558 90%459$62,417$244,300$198 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Charlotte, TN 37036 90%531$73,102$257,600$248 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Pleasant Shade, TN 37145 90%461$69,150$177,800$229 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Tellico Plains, TN 37385 90%430$60,472$217,300$212 larger
Bennington, IN 47011 90%357$67,981$205,700$225 smaller
Lacygne, KS 66040 90%892$56,323$174,300$227 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Covington, TX 76636 90%1,166$69,018$204,800$244 smaller · younger residents
Fairmount, GA 30139 89%490$69,096$213,700$179 6 min shorter commute
Mc Ewen, TN 37101 89%553$78,043$222,700$204 larger
Petersburg, TN 37144 89%535$64,620$238,100$193 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents
Sullivan, OH 44880 89%225$69,505$259,900$245 pricier homes ($52K more) · older 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.