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 Ranson, WV 25438

Ranson: median income $81,875, home value $254,400, $181/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belle Fourche, SD 57717 91%1,378$77,689$249,200$180 6 min shorter commute
Columbiana, AL 35051 90%645$80,061$250,000$151 Very close on everything we compare
Benton, TN 37307 89%470$73,854$220,300$200 cheaper homes ($34K less) · less walkable
Milaca, MN 56353 89%918$78,763$263,200$187 Very close on everything we compare
Manteno, IL 60950 89%543$89,125$259,200$177 larger · older residents
Lisbon, ME 04250 88%516$84,028$257,700$200 smaller · older homes
Kodak, TN 37764 88%390$70,989$284,000$199 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · less walkable
Cambridge, MN 55008 88%896$84,513$290,700$181 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Sealy, TX 77474 88%1,228$75,272$287,600$173 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · less walkable
Denton, MD 21629 87%113$73,956$334,200$188 pricier homes ($80K more)
Perryville, MD 21903 87%98$78,962$299,300$207 pricier homes ($45K more) · older homes
Midway, GA 31320 87%555$77,195$234,100$186 less walkable
Kaufman, TX 75142 87%1,129$80,028$237,900$172 larger
Homer, GA 30547 86%462$94,936$313,400$203 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller · less walkable
Kingsland, GA 31548 86%626$75,804$250,600$182 larger
Gibsonton, FL 33534 86%833$80,484$314,000$171 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
New Port Richey, FL 34654 86%807$73,947$307,200$182 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Genoa, IL 60135 86%599$98,033$254,000$200 more single-family homes
Oak Grove, MO 64075 86%871$81,573$264,100$180 larger · more single-family homes
Bridgeport, TX 76426 86%1,185$92,130$268,900$169 larger · more single-family homes
Lockhart, TX 78644 86%1,297$74,709$279,800$166 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Georgetown, DE 19947 85%139$71,229$322,300$196 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Laurel, DE 19956 85%134$65,603$259,500$192 larger
Rocky Point, NC 28457 85%336$78,178$245,900$196 larger · less walkable
Mount Airy, GA 30563 85%450$84,561$240,500$184 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes

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.