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 Waverly, WV 26184

Waverly: median income $62,550, home value $165,600, $133/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Birdseye, IN 47513 95%295$66,615$163,900$115 Very close on everything we compare
Joppa, AL 35087 94%450$67,043$172,200$117 Very close on everything we compare
Naylor, GA 31641 93%590$59,783$201,000$179 pricier homes ($35K more)
Ovett, MS 39464 93%692$71,875$154,600$115 Very close on everything we compare
Bedford, KY 40006 93%217$59,477$181,700$130 larger
Autryville, NC 28318 92%329$56,439$154,200$148 larger
Gleason, TN 38229 92%450$58,715$146,600$125 Very close on everything we compare
Mooers, NY 12958 91%558$63,977$177,000$155 Very close on everything we compare
Bland, VA 24315 91%152$62,708$157,900$147 larger · younger residents
Hope Hull, AL 36043 91%565$73,571$195,800$125 pricier homes ($30K more)
Pinson, TN 38366 91%482$58,802$127,500$157 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Toomsuba, MS 39364 91%620$65,294$165,900— more renters
Reeds, MO 64859 91%709$61,429$122,900$142 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Quitman, LA 71268 91%795$69,018$154,500$104 Very close on everything we compare
Centerville, TX 75833 91%989$69,338$179,500$149 larger · more renters
Mooers Forks, NY 12959 90%555$54,981$175,200$111 Very close on everything we compare
Ridge Spring, SC 29129 90%376$61,103$147,700$172 larger
Coker, AL 35452 90%544$70,962$187,300$139 larger · younger residents
Coosada, AL 36020 90%546$61,161$182,600$122 smaller · younger residents
Leroy, MI 49655 90%388$65,556$180,300$151 Very close on everything we compare
Pearcy, AR 71964 90%736$56,514$177,400$160 larger
Jewett, TX 75846 90%997$64,250$204,100$139 pricier homes ($39K more)
Pembroke, VA 24136 89%144$70,854$183,300$143 older homes
Nancy, KY 42544 89%239$60,895$170,400$167 larger
Pomona, MO 65789 89%597$57,083$186,400$175 smaller

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.