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 Independence, WV 26374

Independence: median income $57,321, home value $162,300, $145/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Highland Home, AL 36041 97%632$60,903$160,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
New Sharon, ME 04955 94%620$63,889$171,200$152 Very close on everything we compare
Franklin Furnace, OH 45629 93%167$60,592$174,300$119 larger
Benton, MS 39039 92%738$60,175$145,000$143 Very close on everything we compare
Hardin, KY 42048 92%491$55,714$138,800$134 Very close on everything we compare
Mangham, LA 71259 91%827$58,958$145,300$142 6 min shorter commute
Waco, KY 40385 90%258$63,103$194,700$155 pricier homes ($32K more)
Callao, VA 22435 89%205$50,809$187,100$175 Very close on everything we compare
Macclesfield, NC 27852 89%283$55,921$142,100$151 Very close on everything we compare
Woodville, AL 35776 89%481$54,458$159,400$165 larger
Guysville, OH 45735 89%110$51,364$149,300$237 Very close on everything we compare
New Franklin, MO 65274 89%688$69,833$158,100$139 Very close on everything we compare
Van, TX 75790 89%1,001$65,039$173,900$133 larger
Columbia Falls, ME 04623 88%718$50,163$180,600$138 Very close on everything we compare
Arrington, VA 22922 88%131$60,125$226,000$206 pricier homes ($64K more)
Munith, MI 49259 88%305$66,500$208,300$145 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Smithton, MO 65350 88%711$60,509$198,300$135 pricier homes ($36K more)
Rose Bud, AR 72137 88%726$52,612$164,800$148 newer homes
Stuart, OK 74570 88%947$57,131$163,000— older residents
Holliday, TX 76366 88%1,111$56,034$156,700$167 Very close on everything we compare
La Mesa, NM 88044 88%1,584$64,910$234,200$187 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger
Freedom, ME 04941 87%643$65,662$214,000$216 pricier homes ($52K more)
Alexandria, PA 16611 87%121$70,887$167,500— larger · older homes
Pounding Mill, VA 24637 87%193$57,112$161,700$124 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Autryville, NC 28318 87%308$56,439$154,200$148 larger

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.