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 Van Lear, KY 41265

Van Lear: median income $35,833, home value $157,400, $105/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marlinton, WV 24954 87%146$37,899$144,000$109 larger
Shaw, MS 38773 83%536$30,661$110,400— cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Monterey, IN 46960 81%310$45,625$151,000$117 8 min longer commute
Hiltons, VA 24258 80%77$44,659$122,000$134 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents
Timbo, AR 72680 79%545$43,668$144,100$138 younger residents
Arco, ID 83213 79%1,644$43,472$163,800$147 younger residents · more renters
Brockport, PA 15823 78%324$51,125$146,100— Very close on everything we compare
Lynch Station, VA 24571 78%190$32,218$169,200$219 larger
Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579 78%174$45,944$165,600$120 Very close on everything we compare
Plains, GA 31780 78%406$39,290$158,600— larger · younger residents
Tremont, MS 38876 78%393$37,462$154,800$101 newer homes
Green Castle, MO 63544 78%573$44,167$109,400— cheaper homes ($48K less) · 5 min longer commute
Bull Shoals, AR 72619 78%553$45,042$161,600$134 larger · 7 min longer commute · more renters
Bayboro, NC 28515 77%376$31,715$157,700$106 larger · more renters
Hot Springs, MT 59845 77%1,744$31,970$191,100$179 pricier homes ($34K more) · more renters
Dierks, AR 71833 77%680$29,018$105,400$84 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Cabool, MO 65689 76%518$44,231$169,300$110 larger · more renters
Ash Flat, AR 72513 76%504$40,055$98,100$137 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Talihina, OK 74571 76%715$41,105$125,400$142 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · more renters
Chula, GA 31733 75%431$48,903$206,900$163 pricier homes ($50K more)
Clarence, MO 63437 75%532$36,786$87,200$120 cheaper homes ($70K less) · older homes
Shelbina, MO 63468 75%520$45,882$100,600$91 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Osceola, MO 64776 75%602$44,880$149,100$126 larger · 7 min longer commute
Winona, MO 65588 75%475$44,500$155,900$158 larger
Simsboro, LA 71275 75%674$36,225$110,300$165 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute

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.