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 Wardensville, WV 26851

Wardensville: median income $49,776, home value $209,400, $185/sq ft, 50-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Point, CA 95255 92%2,236$51,364$275,700$236 pricier homes ($66K more)
Hague, VA 22469 85%126$58,500$325,900$198 pricier homes ($117K more)
Grovespring, MO 65662 84%765$51,339$216,100$212 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Ethelsville, AL 35461 83%661$47,375$174,400— cheaper homes ($35K less) · less walkable
Saint Joe, AR 72675 83%804$48,393$157,500$169 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Dunnsville, VA 22454 82%127$49,480$247,800$238 pricier homes ($38K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Trinidad, TX 75163 82%1,089$60,462$198,200$176 older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Moscow, OH 45153 81%300$57,176$226,100— younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Pachuta, MS 39347 80%754$49,265$187,500$179 6 min longer commute · less walkable · newer homes
Hancock, NY 13783 79%269$51,510$162,300$228 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents · older homes
Stahlstown, PA 15687 79%84$54,798$189,500$242 smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Three Springs, PA 17264 79%85$53,382$168,000$183 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents · 10 min shorter commute
Sunbury, NC 27979 79%212$63,170$192,300$120 smaller
Ferguson, NC 28624 79%253$51,836$202,500$258 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Edison, OH 43320 79%251$51,603$124,300$171 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller · older homes
Greentown, PA 18426 78%236$63,219$272,300$218 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Chamisal, NM 87521 78%1,493$39,718$218,600— younger residents
Ararat, VA 24053 77%198$63,646$171,900— cheaper homes ($38K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Long Island, VA 24569 77%140$50,179$187,100$96 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Branch, MI 49402 77%510$51,324$169,800$239 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Floodwood, MN 55736 76%901$65,179$164,500$180 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Georgetown, CA 95634 76%2,242$57,328$361,300$229 pricier homes ($152K more) · larger · older residents
Poland, IN 47868 75%447$51,409$159,500$169 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Pine River, WI 54965 75%643$60,625$197,500$170 smaller · 10 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Lacygne, KS 66040 75%886$56,323$174,300$227 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · younger residents

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.