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 Matewan, WV 25678

Matewan: median income $36,486, home value $96,300, $60/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake View, SC 29563 88%276$46,013$88,600— Very close on everything we compare
Shelbiana, KY 41562 88%25$40,104$96,700— Very close on everything we compare
Martin, KY 41649 86%39$36,023$67,100— cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Bandy, VA 24602 84%37$45,150$88,800— 5 min longer commute
Garysburg, NC 27831 83%259$36,136$87,300— larger · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Gibsland, LA 71028 83%713$36,394$93,600— younger residents
Linden, AL 36748 82%488$42,826$93,700$64 larger · younger residents
Gordon, AL 36343 81%481$47,188$98,900$59 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Jenkins, KY 41537 80%42$35,673$76,200$78 larger · more homeowners
Preston, GA 31824 79%406$31,742$87,100$108 younger residents
Louisville, AL 36048 79%447$44,158$78,900$103 Very close on everything we compare
Hagerhill, KY 41222 79%44$40,859$105,100$81 larger · more homeowners
Belfry, KY 41514 79%11$39,545$91,300$61 larger · more homeowners
Logansport, LA 71049 79%777$37,455$79,000$66 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Oaktown, IN 47561 78%302$45,911$77,500$71 6 min shorter commute
Clio, AL 36017 77%454$41,167$97,000— larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Lewisville, AR 71845 77%710$33,672$90,200— more homeowners · more single-family homes
Ola, AR 72853 77%645$35,262$98,100$108 6 min shorter commute
Morgan, GA 39866 76%442$31,023$92,000— larger · younger residents
Worthville, KY 41098 76%178$33,125$86,300$105 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Spearsville, LA 71277 76%674$26,686$80,200$68 younger residents
Wisner, LA 71378 76%668$36,950$110,700— larger · more single-family homes
Gresham, SC 29546 75%296$32,043$97,100— larger · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Cobbtown, GA 30420 75%368$40,563$128,300$102 pricier homes ($32K more) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Brilliant, AL 35548 75%402$43,958$68,800$72 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners

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.