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 Palestine, WV 26160

Palestine: median income $48,992, home value $181,100, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stark City, MO 64866 91%708$59,712$169,100— Very close on everything we compare
Pelham, TN 37366 90%351$58,616$188,500— Very close on everything we compare
Strong, ME 04983 88%703$53,894$190,500$195 larger
Cornell, MI 49818 88%563$61,528$191,700$180 Very close on everything we compare
Bryant Pond, ME 04219 87%670$62,361$215,900$296 pricier homes ($35K more)
Kimmell, IN 46760 87%274$46,992$165,300$123 Very close on everything we compare
Home, PA 15747 86%173$54,938$192,900$108 Very close on everything we compare
Purgitsville, WV 26852 86%137$63,221$218,300$125 pricier homes ($37K more)
Copemish, MI 49625 86%443$52,583$182,300$224 7 min longer commute
Washington, ME 04574 85%721$59,861$195,200$173 more apartments and townhomes
Pocono Summit, PA 18346 85%352$56,750$189,700$190 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Groveoak, AL 35975 85%404$48,225$176,100$113 more apartments and townhomes
Delta, AL 36258 85%449$58,993$143,100$192 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Brethren, MI 49619 85%437$62,574$162,100$206 Very close on everything we compare
Tuscumbia, MO 65082 85%597$60,260$168,300$305 more apartments and townhomes
Everton, MO 65646 85%676$52,708$168,700$170 larger
Rudy, AR 72952 85%745$49,254$165,600$62 larger · older residents
West Enfield, ME 04493 84%789$61,563$183,700$323 larger · older residents
Jacobsburg, OH 43933 84%73$59,881$160,800$109 larger
Carsonville, MI 48419 84%314$59,485$172,900$242 larger · older homes
Avery, TX 75554 84%833$46,750$166,900$138 larger · more renters
Columbia Falls, ME 04623 83%805$50,163$180,600$138 more renters
Plymouth, ME 04969 83%743$61,964$207,100— pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents
Grovertown, IN 46531 83%315$57,786$141,900$129 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Wolverine, MI 49799 83%465$58,235$184,600$203 larger · older residents

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.