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 Wellsburg, WV 26070

Wellsburg: median income $52,359, home value $143,500, $92/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Portage, PA 15946 96%104$55,582$117,000$88 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Ford City, PA 16226 92%66$63,750$144,500$112 Very close on everything we compare
Bluefield, VA 24605 92%211$52,653$137,200$105 younger residents
Havana, IL 62644 92%499$57,689$102,900$82 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Bridgeport, OH 43912 91%16$55,668$121,600$121 Very close on everything we compare
Dewey, OK 74029 91%861$57,821$151,400$118 Very close on everything we compare
Dansville, NY 14437 90%219$66,332$124,800$118 Very close on everything we compare
Johnstown, PA 15909 90%91$61,016$110,200$107 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Windber, PA 15963 90%93$61,566$135,700$92 6 min shorter commute
Linesville, PA 16424 90%95$56,186$128,500$103 smaller
Corunna, MI 48817 90%262$55,194$171,700$108 pricier homes ($28K more)
Jefferson, IA 50129 90%727$60,671$166,100$117 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Carmichaels, PA 15320 89%42$64,213$146,500$113 smaller
Blairsville, PA 15717 89%72$61,304$153,900$100 5 min shorter commute
New Bethlehem, PA 16242 89%83$55,677$134,700$79 smaller
Toronto, OH 43964 89%15$60,365$132,800$135 Very close on everything we compare
Oakland City, IN 47660 89%385$57,472$146,300$107 smaller · younger residents
Rogers City, MI 49779 89%392$53,465$124,000$79 smaller
Oxford, NY 13830 88%301$62,400$130,100$106 smaller
Unadilla, NY 13849 88%308$57,917$137,400$120 smaller
Boswell, PA 15531 88%82$60,855$137,500$128 smaller
Punxsutawney, PA 15767 88%98$50,589$135,900$127 larger · younger residents
Titusville, PA 16354 88%107$48,963$102,500$83 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Dresden, TN 38225 88%517$50,545$134,900$119 Very close on everything we compare
Crestline, OH 44827 88%118$56,757$125,900$148 Very close on everything we compare

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.