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 Lesage, WV 25537

Lesage: median income $68,385, home value $188,700, $78/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rosepine, LA 70659 97%812$65,640$204,400— Very close on everything we compare
Fountain Run, KY 42133 92%234$62,353$163,900$101 Very close on everything we compare
Bentonia, MS 39040 91%604$61,250$212,200$99 larger
Oriskany Falls, NY 13425 90%472$65,243$160,300$75 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older homes
Castorland, NY 13620 90%515$70,087$181,800$79 older homes
Laceyville, PA 18623 90%393$74,798$176,800$85 older residents
Mount Hermon, LA 70450 90%689$61,333$200,000— larger
Rome, PA 18837 89%393$71,131$188,100$101 larger
Delco, NC 28436 89%366$64,297$184,200— 5 min longer commute
Baker, MT 59313 89%1,240$78,015$231,800$70 pricier homes ($43K more)
Huntsville, MO 65259 89%555$60,865$141,600$92 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
S Coffeyville, OK 74072 89%734$67,708$164,500$93 more homeowners
Steens, MS 39766 88%478$65,707$162,700— cheaper homes ($26K less)
Holmesville, OH 44633 88%150$64,688$215,200— pricier homes ($27K more)
Tuscarawas, OH 44682 88%141$86,250$155,800— cheaper homes ($33K less)
Ogema, MN 56569 88%910$57,434$209,500— Very close on everything we compare
Morrisville, MO 65710 88%610$77,865$231,000— pricier homes ($42K more)
Huntington, UT 84528 88%1,536$71,053$206,100— Very close on everything we compare
Cades, SC 29518 87%352$61,923$212,200$84 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Beecher City, IL 62414 87%354$58,370$157,800— cheaper homes ($31K less) · older homes
Ashley, IL 62808 87%376$69,015$146,600$77 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older homes
Fort Towson, OK 74735 87%783$57,986$156,500$116 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Pantego, NC 27860 86%366$62,083$145,300— cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents · older homes
Mayesville, SC 29104 86%334$67,096$157,800$133 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Sturgis, MS 39769 86%517$69,079$156,300— cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger 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.