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 Hamlin, WV 25523

Hamlin: median income $66,563, home value $86,600, $95/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Friendship, NY 14739 92%341$57,794$78,600$86 Very close on everything we compare
Cuba, NY 14727 90%337$63,257$108,000$107 larger
Wibaux, MT 59353 90%1,267$68,250$98,800$88 smaller
Van Horn, TX 79855 90%1,380$58,910$79,300— 5 min shorter commute
Norfolk, NY 13667 89%584$59,849$99,700$86 less walkable
South Fulton, TN 38257 89%392$58,849$103,100$127 larger
Oblong, IL 62449 89%316$59,555$98,800— Very close on everything we compare
Albion, IL 62806 89%323$66,776$120,800— pricier homes ($34K more)
Du Quoin, IL 62832 89%388$59,652$100,300$97 larger
Canisteo, NY 14823 88%363$63,140$118,800$91 pricier homes ($32K more)
Shinglehouse, PA 16748 88%327$61,250$104,000$71 less walkable
Corydon, IA 50060 88%622$63,438$117,300$106 pricier homes ($31K more)
Sparta, IL 62286 88%413$61,220$117,800$94 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Albany, MO 64402 88%667$54,444$111,900— pricier homes ($25K more)
Baird, TX 79504 88%1,053$64,545$119,600$82 pricier homes ($33K more)
Dupo, IL 62239 87%439$61,191$111,400$123 larger
Sumner, IL 62466 87%313$78,250$98,700— less walkable
Haven, KS 67543 87%852$64,219$113,300$104 pricier homes ($27K more)
Daingerfield, TX 75638 87%796$66,579$111,000$116 larger
Cotulla, TX 78014 87%1,197$66,250$100,000$91 larger · younger residents
Karnes City, TX 78118 87%1,115$60,711$103,700— larger · younger residents
Hale Center, TX 79041 87%1,138$61,832$101,000$79 Very close on everything we compare
Clarendon, TX 79226 87%1,065$58,031$102,700$133 Very close on everything we compare
Mexico, ME 04257 86%738$55,727$110,800$96 older homes
Elbridge, NY 13060 86%442$64,448$123,100— pricier homes ($37K more)

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.