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 Purgitsville, WV 26852

Purgitsville: median income $63,221, home value $218,300, $125/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Randall, MN 56475 88%919$64,327$207,800$150 larger
Tennessee Ridge, TN 37178 87%525$72,692$173,600$134 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Pelham, TN 37366 87%469$58,616$188,500— cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Cornell, MI 49818 87%624$61,528$191,700$180 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Trimble, MO 64492 87%835$66,211$225,900$186 larger
Stark City, MO 64866 87%845$59,712$169,100— cheaper homes ($49K less)
Utica, PA 16362 86%162$65,833$183,000$159 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Lake Hamilton, FL 33851 86%792$62,284$236,400— younger residents
Laona, WI 54541 86%660$63,438$193,800$104 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Erhard, MN 56534 86%999$70,694$238,300$145 Very close on everything we compare
Washington, ME 04574 85%600$59,861$195,200$173 larger · more apartments and townhomes
James Creek, PA 16657 85%84$63,353$214,500$164 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Friendsville, MD 21531 85%39$63,750$180,300$145 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · more renters
Dixon Springs, TN 37057 85%436$78,940$224,200$160 Very close on everything we compare
Milan, NH 03588 84%541$71,538$253,500$155 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Porterfield, WI 54159 84%612$69,375$186,100$177 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Van Vleck, TX 77482 84%1,199$58,103$205,900$160 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Dornsife, PA 17823 83%153$78,864$232,100— Very close on everything we compare
Pinetown, NC 27865 83%280$72,708$184,800$134 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Jacobsburg, OH 43933 83%115$59,881$160,800$109 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Frederic, MI 49733 83%485$66,318$147,700$118 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Daggett, MI 49821 83%617$58,750$164,300$162 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Birnamwood, WI 54414 83%656$72,500$200,100$138 larger · more renters
Embarrass, MN 55732 83%882$64,750$178,700$192 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Meta, MO 65058 83%716$71,771$242,900$83 older 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.