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 Farmington, WV 26571

Farmington: median income $84,167, home value $141,500, $28/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Venus, PA 16364 87%135$74,886$183,500— pricier homes ($42K more)
Unionville, MI 48767 86%331$77,938$123,100— 5 min shorter commute
Kewanna, IN 46939 84%340$69,000$140,700— 5 min shorter commute
Sigel, PA 15860 83%140$65,774$148,800— smaller · newer homes
Snow Shoe, PA 16874 83%161$79,375$178,100— pricier homes ($37K more) · newer homes
Karnak, IL 62956 83%496$73,462$128,800— smaller · newer homes
Waverly, KS 66871 83%827$71,094$145,100— Very close on everything we compare
Lerna, IL 62440 82%427$79,605$128,000— smaller · newer homes
Hay Springs, NE 69347 81%1,184$76,133$116,300— cheaper homes ($25K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Avonmore, PA 15618 80%81$61,579$113,800$40 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Mclean, TX 79057 80%1,153$70,865$91,300— cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Flat Rock, IL 62427 79%400$81,250$160,700— younger residents · newer homes
Varysburg, NY 14167 78%246$67,132$150,000— 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Dilliner, PA 15327 78%23$70,296$118,100— smaller · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Weedville, PA 15868 78%153$70,395$112,200— cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Dornsife, PA 17823 78%204$78,864$232,100— pricier homes ($91K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Nebo, IL 62355 78%560$65,750$108,700— cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · younger residents
Allendale, IL 62410 78%406$80,588$113,400— cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · newer homes
Lindley, NY 14858 77%239$81,750$145,200— younger residents · newer homes
Penn Run, PA 15765 77%102$73,646$186,000— pricier homes ($45K more) · newer homes
Wilcox, PA 15870 77%165$63,750$126,800— smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Dallas City, IL 62330 77%579$61,042$97,200$25 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 5 min shorter commute
West Salem, IL 62476 77%421$65,543$91,800— cheaper homes ($50K less) · newer homes
Rankin, TX 79778 77%1,345$70,808$123,500— smaller · younger residents · more renters
Munnsville, NY 13409 76%341$72,333$137,300— younger residents · 6 min shorter commute · newer 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.