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 Mathias, WV 26812

Mathias: median income $64,375, home value $144,200, $158/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
James Creek, PA 16657 92%109$63,353$214,500$164 pricier homes ($70K more)
White Lake, WI 54491 92%667$55,917$168,400$163 Very close on everything we compare
Glencoe, OK 74032 92%1,003$65,357$138,100$182 5 min shorter commute
Jefferson, NY 12093 91%336$65,321$174,800$192 pricier homes ($31K more)
Friendsville, MD 21531 91%62$63,750$180,300$145 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Liberty, TN 37095 91%436$64,792$189,200$212 pricier homes ($45K more)
Utica, PA 16362 90%188$65,833$183,000$159 pricier homes ($39K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Nickelsville, VA 24271 90%243$58,625$161,500$166 larger
Applegate, MI 48401 90%367$70,536$162,700$183 Very close on everything we compare
Port Sanilac, MI 48469 90%368$56,023$162,700$134 older homes
Frederic, MI 49733 90%509$66,318$147,700$118 Very close on everything we compare
Kennerdell, PA 16374 89%173$57,829$128,800$171 older homes
Morrisdale, PA 16858 89%151$56,655$158,600$136 larger
Dushore, PA 18614 89%225$68,864$190,000$157 pricier homes ($46K more) · older homes
Montvale, VA 24122 89%111$66,563$198,600$137 pricier homes ($54K more)
Copperhill, TN 37317 89%403$72,371$151,000$195 larger · younger residents
Six Lakes, MI 48886 89%453$61,667$165,600$179 Very close on everything we compare
Sedgewickville, MO 63781 89%606$72,561$166,400$177 Very close on everything we compare
Washington, ME 04574 88%616$59,861$195,200$173 pricier homes ($51K more)
Saint Albans, ME 04971 88%642$65,600$194,000$244 pricier homes ($50K more)
Frenchville, PA 16836 88%158$62,841$131,700$210 Very close on everything we compare
Farnham, VA 22460 88%141$65,685$198,200$164 pricier homes ($54K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Lowgap, NC 27024 88%194$62,813$188,600$191 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Francisco, IN 47649 88%464$63,060$160,800$129 older homes
Oakley, MI 48649 88%405$72,609$164,200$117 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.