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 Midway, WV 25878

Midway: median income $25,878, home value $104,000, $113/sq ft.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Van Lear, KY 41265 46%80$35,833$157,400$105 pricier homes ($53K more) · 20 min longer commute
Oshkosh, NE 69154 45%1,150$41,348$112,800$184 younger residents · 10 min longer commute · more single-family homes
San Luis, CO 81152 44%1,327$31,875$120,300$64 younger residents · 16 min longer commute · more renters
Hot Springs, MT 59845 43%1,813$31,970$191,100$179 pricier homes ($87K more) · 18 min longer commute · more renters
Eudora, AR 71640 43%647$28,461$66,000$66 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · older residents
Iraan, TX 79744 43%1,267$42,039$101,100— younger residents · 12 min longer commute · more renters
Truth Or Consequences, NM 87901 43%1,493$34,242$128,700$118 larger · 12 min longer commute · more renters
East Millinocket, ME 04430 42%850$42,011$86,200$88 18 min longer commute · older homes
Chetopa, KS 67336 42%761$26,667$72,800$92 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents · 19 min longer commute
Dolan Springs, AZ 86441 42%1,834$25,098$125,700$140 older residents · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Brickeys, AR 72320 41%554$32,679$67,200— cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Springfield, CO 81073 41%1,168$47,167$131,900$58 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · younger residents
Hill City, KS 67642 40%1,010$49,896$98,500$65 larger · younger residents · 10 min longer commute
Seymour, TX 76380 40%1,049$45,880$103,100$115 larger · 16 min longer commute · more renters
Shaw, MS 38773 39%606$30,661$110,400— larger · 22 min longer commute
Midway, AR 72651 39%627$30,000$211,600$141 pricier homes ($108K more) · 17 min longer commute
Tucumcari, NM 88401 39%1,259$49,345$76,500$103 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Clayton, NM 88415 39%1,210$44,952$120,800$77 larger · younger residents · 15 min longer commute
Van Buren, ME 04785 38%938$41,528$114,200$126 larger · older residents · 14 min longer commute
Ash Flat, AR 72513 38%583$40,055$98,100$137 larger · 19 min longer commute
Olney, TX 76374 38%1,027$43,939$121,000$79 larger · younger residents · 14 min longer commute
Lynch Station, VA 24571 37%112$32,218$169,200$219 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger · 21 min longer commute
Shelbina, MO 63468 37%598$45,882$100,600$91 larger · 19 min longer commute
Robert Lee, TX 76945 37%1,162$36,731$67,000$166 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · 21 min longer commute
Rawlings, MD 21557 36%177$34,936$123,300$148 22 min longer commute · more single-family homes

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.