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 Julian, WV 25529

Julian: median income $55,769, home value $83,600, $29/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dixons Mills, AL 36736 91%534$55,759$109,300— pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Centertown, KY 42328 88%285$57,679$97,200$27 Very close on everything we compare
Woodland, MS 39776 87%499$50,909$87,500— 6 min shorter commute
Clinchco, VA 24226 84%73$54,191$81,300— larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Morse, LA 70559 83%820$71,563$86,100— larger
Hermitage, AR 71647 83%663$50,441$85,000$38 larger
Robeline, LA 71469 82%782$50,994$92,000— larger · 7 min shorter commute
Montezuma Creek, UT 84534 82%1,485$47,708$62,000— larger
Waterflow, NM 87421 82%1,460$51,029$122,800— pricier homes ($39K more) · older residents
Hickory, MS 39332 80%568$65,286$104,900— larger
Islandton, SC 29929 79%362$58,267$104,500— older residents · more homeowners
Bradfordsville, KY 40009 79%185$63,889$66,800— larger · more homeowners
Pirtleville, AZ 85626 79%1,634$49,519$93,800— 6 min longer commute · older homes
West, MS 39192 77%559$48,750$90,200— larger
Sweet Water, AL 36782 76%540$51,429$66,200— larger · older residents · more homeowners
Enid, MS 38927 76%531$48,611$59,900— older residents · more homeowners
Holcomb, MS 38940 75%547$64,048$109,600— pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older residents
Banks, AL 36005 74%488$47,250$107,300— larger · older residents
Brinson, GA 39825 74%520$65,254$138,900— pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Hornbeck, LA 71439 74%804$43,638$109,700$50 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Apple Springs, TX 75926 74%883$65,833$130,400— pricier homes ($47K more) · older residents
Tenaha, TX 75974 74%820$47,292$91,300— larger · older residents
Castle Creek, NY 13744 73%424$61,086$120,000— pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Vado, NM 88072 73%1,456$53,750$99,600— larger · 8 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Hagerman, NM 88232 73%1,305$65,000$134,700— pricier homes ($51K 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.