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 Varney, WV 25696

Varney: median income $48,077, home value $109,400, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tignall, GA 30668 92%264$49,107$119,800$109 larger
Poulan, GA 31781 90%434$52,991$110,800$123 larger · newer homes
Gates, TN 38037 90%423$51,976$88,700$190 Very close on everything we compare
Richwoods, MO 63071 90%476$44,853$122,900$188 older residents
Irondale, MO 63648 90%469$51,765$99,500$126 Very close on everything we compare
Drakes Branch, VA 23937 89%202$42,818$85,000$177 larger
Traphill, NC 28685 89%111$46,406$123,200$312 larger · younger residents
Lobelville, TN 37097 89%343$50,658$134,300$235 larger · newer homes
Havana, AR 72842 89%662$49,000$103,400$73 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Quinton, OK 74561 89%761$48,224$90,000$104 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Verdunville, WV 25649 88%13$53,262$113,100— Very close on everything we compare
Oakman, AL 35579 88%402$46,968$110,800$86 larger
Midway, AL 36053 88%431$49,357$104,200— larger
Sacramento, KY 42372 88%283$48,090$102,900$120 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Alberta, VA 23821 87%238$46,336$98,500$157 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Haysi, VA 24256 87%32$48,788$104,100$113 larger · older residents
Java, VA 24565 87%171$41,683$148,800— pricier homes ($39K more)
Norway, SC 29113 87%297$48,857$84,200— cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Nesmith, SC 29580 87%312$50,156$88,700$88 Very close on everything we compare
Trezevant, TN 38258 87%376$50,921$100,400$128 younger residents
Benoit, MS 38725 87%572$47,115$80,700— cheaper homes ($29K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Summer Shade, KY 42166 87%204$49,783$116,200$145 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Saline, LA 71070 87%718$59,259$109,100$116 Very close on everything we compare
Mill Creek, WV 26280 86%138$46,335$134,100$115 younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Morven, NC 28119 86%228$50,194$79,800$69 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older 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.