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 Rainelle, WV 25962

Rainelle: median income $44,004, home value $96,800, $141/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Honaker, VA 24260 93%93$46,250$95,300$141 larger
Hominy, OK 74035 91%865$47,833$108,300$125 6 min shorter commute
Waldo, AR 71770 90%770$44,569$91,200$109 Very close on everything we compare
Wetumka, OK 74883 89%877$41,696$92,000$157 8 min shorter commute
Victoria, VA 23974 87%155$51,409$134,500$141 pricier homes ($38K more)
Falmouth, KY 41040 87%199$49,147$137,500$144 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Gueydan, LA 70542 87%867$41,971$93,500— more apartments and townhomes
Coffeeville, MS 38922 86%570$36,473$104,400$100 5 min shorter commute
Quinton, OK 74561 86%837$48,224$90,000$104 smaller
Great Falls, SC 29055 85%235$37,401$107,400$132 8 min shorter commute
Tompkinsville, KY 42167 85%283$48,497$114,200$131 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Whittemore, MI 48770 85%461$49,957$105,500$133 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Doniphan, MO 63935 85%558$42,985$124,600$113 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Rich Hill, MO 64779 85%739$54,183$120,600$104 5 min shorter commute
Melville, LA 71353 85%803$37,405$118,300— smaller
Murfreesboro, AR 71958 85%769$48,393$121,400$104 Very close on everything we compare
Tyronza, AR 72386 85%557$46,723$86,100$110 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Pacolet, SC 29372 84%219$46,739$104,400$139 older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Fort Payne, AL 35968 84%367$43,539$122,400$152 pricier homes ($26K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Benoit, MS 38725 84%647$47,115$80,700— smaller
New Castle, KY 40050 84%241$44,688$127,300$126 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Stockport, OH 43787 84%123$45,880$153,000$128 pricier homes ($56K more) · 6 min longer commute
Woodsfield, OH 43793 84%124$49,234$136,200$131 pricier homes ($39K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Pomeroy, OH 45769 84%101$50,952$113,400$123 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Palestine, AR 72372 84%599$43,611$90,300— smaller · 6 min shorter commute · newer 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.