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.

Reset

Towns most like Morgantown, WV 26501

Morgantown: median income $63,529, home value $219,800, $157/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Winston-Salem, NC 27103 94%245$67,012$241,700$182 larger
South Bend, IN 46637 94%359$71,462$207,100$154 Very close on everything we compare
Shreveport, LA 71105 94%911$67,968$213,000$120 Very close on everything we compare
Indiana, PA 15701 92%82$56,311$173,900$140 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Akron, OH 44313 92%134$75,671$231,300$161 Very close on everything we compare
Muncie, IN 47304 92%292$63,215$172,200$133 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Saginaw, MI 48603 92%339$66,352$186,800$130 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Springfield, MO 65804 92%737$62,301$243,500$162 larger
Chattanooga, TN 37415 91%425$70,972$285,000$216 pricier homes ($65K more)
Chattanooga, TN 37416 91%423$70,705$253,100$193 pricier homes ($33K more)
Southfield, MI 48075 91%260$65,384$227,000$135 more walkable
Berrien Springs, MI 49103 91%370$65,827$229,400$185 smaller
Monroe, LA 71201 91%834$65,446$263,800$130 pricier homes ($44K more)
Beaumont, TX 77706 91%1,036$73,185$244,800$124 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Fredonia, NY 14063 90%198$57,937$183,500$146 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · older homes
Bloomsburg, PA 17815 90%210$67,510$222,900$160 larger · younger residents
Paducah, KY 42001 90%502$71,365$215,300$143 larger
Portage, MI 49002 90%342$73,647$246,400$174 pricier homes ($27K more)
Saint Joseph, MO 64506 90%787$65,573$240,300$150 Very close on everything we compare
Plattsburgh, NY 12901 89%484$60,942$189,400$166 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Clinton, NY 13323 89%337$78,224$244,600$193 smaller
High Point, NC 27262 89%251$65,006$236,500$155 younger residents
Haslett, MI 48840 89%316$73,408$280,900$184 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Lansing, MI 48917 89%324$70,990$222,900$149 larger · more walkable
Green Bay, WI 54304 89%533$63,865$220,600$192 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.