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 Morgantown, WV 26505

Morgantown: median income $45,536, home value $278,000, $170/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbia, MO 65201 96%662$48,113$248,400$184 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Gainesville, FL 32607 90%705$45,987$321,900$180 pricier homes ($44K more) · 6 min longer commute
Athens, GA 30605 88%438$50,062$314,200$203 pricier homes ($36K more)
Bloomington, IN 47408 87%349$45,644$346,900$188 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Kalamazoo, MI 49006 87%348$43,639$208,600$159 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Laramie, WY 82072 86%1,342$53,863$324,100$200 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Pullman, WA 99163 86%1,919$48,231$435,900$228 pricier homes ($158K more)
East Lansing, MI 48823 85%318$52,018$282,600$173 more walkable
Stillwater, OK 74075 85%963$46,053$228,100$161 cheaper homes ($50K less) · more single-family homes
Iowa City, IA 52240 82%621$52,960$242,300$181 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more homeowners
Tallahassee, FL 32301 81%682$50,942$226,700$188 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more walkable
Greenville, NC 27858 80%315$59,713$251,100$162 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Clemson, SC 29631 80%378$48,800$400,400$214 pricier homes ($122K more) · smaller
Bowling Green, OH 43402 80%228$52,426$243,100$166 cheaper homes ($35K less) · more single-family homes
Starkville, MS 39759 79%652$46,398$256,900$173 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Manhattan, KS 66502 79%888$54,833$223,100$153 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Gainesville, FL 32608 77%707$61,588$358,200$206 pricier homes ($80K more) · older residents
Auburn, AL 36832 77%578$42,717$263,900$210 more homeowners · newer homes
West Lafayette, IN 47906 77%373$53,103$323,200$186 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · newer homes
Ames, IA 50014 77%737$60,731$336,800$211 pricier homes ($59K more) · newer homes
Denton, TX 76201 77%1,051$39,982$257,700$188 more renters · more walkable
Oxford, OH 45056 76%256$49,233$250,700$188 cheaper homes ($27K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Vermillion, SD 57069 76%907$53,327$231,200$142 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Storrs Mansfield, CT 06268 75%429$55,219$348,600$220 pricier homes ($71K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Athens, OH 45701 75%117$53,075$227,400$153 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes

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.