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 Oakham, MA 01068

Oakham: median income $102,000, home value $420,100, $265/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lyndeborough, NH 03082 95%40$120,313$397,700$220 Very close on everything we compare
Temple, NH 03084 94%34$94,107$401,000$293 Very close on everything we compare
Diamond Point, NY 12824 94%116$108,533$425,900$266 Very close on everything we compare
Francestown, NH 03043 91%46$104,063$408,200$252 Very close on everything we compare
Brookfield, VT 05036 91%120$109,612$343,100$191 cheaper homes ($77K less)
White Hall, MD 21161 91%300$108,094$472,600$287 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Greenwood, CA 95635 91%2,537$101,250$485,200$250 pricier homes ($65K more)
Holmes, NY 12531 90%100$129,028$475,400$312 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($55K more)
Bluemont, VA 20135 90%378$114,219$573,500$347 pricier homes ($153K more) · larger
Freeland, MD 21053 90%305$89,497$408,300$238 larger
Center City, MN 55012 90%1,051$101,607$386,600$226 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Elgin, AZ 85611 90%2,226$91,458$380,300$248 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Berne, NY 12023 89%108$112,885$302,300$210 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Boyce, VA 22620 89%386$99,896$539,300$224 pricier homes ($119K more) · larger
Greenfield, NH 03047 88%43$103,603$350,300$298 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Salisbury, NH 03268 88%75$111,818$363,200$268 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Washington, NH 03280 88%57$90,096$355,200$289 cheaper homes ($65K less) · older residents
Salt Point, NY 12578 88%97$108,194$372,800$268 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older homes
Brooks, GA 30205 88%921$105,700$491,800$209 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger
Lake Park, MN 56554 88%1,216$94,792$376,400$307 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Fitzwilliam, NH 03447 87%29$100,735$305,900$260 cheaper homes ($114K less) · older homes
Alton, NH 03809 87%88$106,397$387,500$270 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Eastford, CT 06242 87%33$89,250$353,100$223 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Columbia, NJ 07832 87%183$106,424$355,200$237 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Earleville, MD 21919 87%286$106,500$373,200$224 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · 6 min shorter 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.