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 Mcmechen, WV 26040

Mcmechen: median income $39,444, home value $97,400, $60/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Weldon, NC 27890 81%299$36,875$94,800— more renters · newer homes
Hobart, OK 73651 81%1,061$41,273$97,800$62 larger · newer homes
Martins Ferry, OH 43935 78%8$45,923$103,600$82 larger · older residents
Glassport, PA 15045 76%50$47,803$82,700$83 larger · more walkable
Sheldon, IL 60966 76%364$46,944$85,200$63 older residents
Slater, MO 65349 76%658$45,982$98,400$82 newer homes
Tecumseh, NE 68450 76%816$46,132$158,600$80 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · newer homes
Tulia, TX 79088 76%1,214$35,804$82,800$57 larger · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35224 75%563$42,639$80,000$76 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
La Belle, MO 63447 74%591$43,478$94,400— smaller · more homeowners · newer homes
Brunswick, MO 65236 74%659$46,806$98,800$62 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Plymouth, PA 18651 73%265$41,990$97,600$79 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Union City, IN 47390 73%217$50,417$97,600$100 larger
Ecorse, MI 48229 73%201$40,264$65,400$90 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · newer homes
Oswego, KS 67356 73%801$52,882$91,200$75 newer homes
Hollis, OK 73550 73%1,113$43,804$80,200$47 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Salamanca, NY 14779 72%183$42,593$85,900$104 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Brilliant, OH 43913 72%20$43,914$82,500$80 smaller · older residents
River Rouge, MI 48218 72%201$41,033$65,200$72 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · more walkable
Christopher, IL 62822 72%468$47,770$67,600$52 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents · newer homes
Ripley, NY 14775 71%165$49,961$113,600$43 older residents · more homeowners
Mcadoo, PA 18237 71%257$47,174$103,300$95 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Earlington, KY 42410 71%411$38,194$64,000$69 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Vickery, OH 43464 71%149$41,471$124,100$110 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents · newer homes
Canton, OH 44704 71%65$31,812$54,300$80 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute

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.