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 Sophia, WV 25921

Sophia: median income $35,451, home value $105,800, $62/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Senath, MO 63876 91%504$34,837$95,900— Very close on everything we compare
Wisner, LA 71378 91%710$36,950$110,700— Very close on everything we compare
Charleston, MO 63834 86%447$41,348$114,000$67 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Springhill, LA 71075 86%760$40,246$100,800$81 larger
Brinkley, AR 72021 85%587$41,310$94,200$38 larger
Weldon, NC 27890 84%220$36,875$94,800— younger residents · older homes
Bunkie, LA 71322 84%780$27,030$97,500$67 larger · 5 min longer commute
Fordyce, AR 71742 84%681$38,843$98,200$67 larger · more homeowners
Isola, MS 38754 83%609$38,173$84,300$58 smaller · 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Grandfield, OK 73546 83%1,003$33,846$60,500$67 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Aliceville, AL 35442 82%502$44,503$139,000$66 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · younger residents
Mobile, AL 36612 81%620$38,056$90,900$101 larger · younger residents
Griggsville, IL 62340 81%529$43,333$99,500— more homeowners
Helena, AR 72342 81%567$36,905$97,200$58 larger · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Hoxie, AR 72433 81%549$36,473$92,400$37 more homeowners
Benavides, TX 78341 81%1,216$45,259$76,100— cheaper homes ($30K less) · less walkable
Charleston, MS 38921 80%559$37,326$102,000$55 larger · younger residents
Marvell, AR 72366 80%583$44,861$71,500$50 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Saint Paul, VA 24283 79%80$40,402$114,200$72 more homeowners
Belzoni, MS 39038 79%606$33,538$85,800$49 larger · younger residents
Dermott, AR 71638 79%641$31,667$61,900— cheaper homes ($44K less)
Dumas, AR 71639 79%631$37,173$85,700$44 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Pennington Gap, VA 24277 78%118$31,737$86,200$92 larger · more homeowners
Richlands, VA 24641 78%52$35,531$107,600$96 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Plymouth, NC 27962 78%280$41,774$114,500$83 larger · 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.