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 Oxford, ME 04270

Oxford: median income $74,241, home value $216,400, $344/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chicora, PA 16025 93%518$71,722$209,500$303 Very close on everything we compare
Deer River, MN 56636 92%1,143$61,289$210,000$264 Very close on everything we compare
West Sunbury, PA 16061 91%522$74,464$197,400— smaller
Fennville, MI 49408 91%791$73,452$229,900$264 larger
Clayton, WI 54004 91%1,062$68,182$240,600$345 smaller
Estill Springs, TN 37330 90%1,028$70,952$213,500$226 Very close on everything we compare
Gowen, MI 49326 90%742$84,000$226,100$290 smaller
Lena, WI 54139 90%865$78,013$209,800$265 smaller
Shiocton, WI 54170 90%891$78,889$232,100$259 smaller
Chetek, WI 54728 90%1,039$74,712$224,400$237 older residents
Bridgeport, NY 13030 89%281$68,306$206,400$250 smaller
New Alexandria, PA 15670 89%523$79,345$195,400$301 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Marshville, NC 28103 89%818$76,924$248,200$237 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Andersonville, TN 37705 89%899$79,262$286,400$242 pricier homes ($70K more)
Lawton, MI 49065 89%783$71,447$233,100$219 Very close on everything we compare
Arpin, WI 54410 89%963$84,135$213,200— smaller
Grantsburg, WI 54840 89%1,087$63,750$186,200$223 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Algodones, NM 87001 89%1,979$68,547$215,800— smaller · younger residents
Hinsdale, MA 01235 88%174$79,327$267,500$280 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller
Winchester, NH 03470 88%130$79,028$252,800$244 pricier homes ($36K more)
Petersburg, NY 12138 88%170$75,833$191,900$260 smaller
Harrisville, PA 16038 88%522$72,850$175,000$281 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Portersville, PA 16051 88%536$88,958$215,600$271 smaller
Oakboro, NC 28129 88%804$69,906$266,800$209 pricier homes ($50K more)
Wolcottville, IN 46795 88%769$87,175$260,000$244 pricier homes ($44K more)

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.