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 Oldtown, MD 21555

Oldtown: median income $53,266, home value $197,700, $119/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Horatio, AR 71842 97%950$55,810$175,500$122 Very close on everything we compare
Deford, MI 48729 96%358$60,776$211,700$132 Very close on everything we compare
Home, PA 15747 94%88$54,938$192,900$108 Very close on everything we compare
Kimmell, IN 46760 94%386$46,992$165,300$123 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Farmdale, OH 44417 93%165$52,763$197,600$142 5 min longer commute
North Bloomfield, OH 44450 93%174$51,723$177,200$111 larger · younger residents
La Farge, WI 54639 93%680$61,375$209,700$130 larger
Sebeka, MN 56477 93%960$57,857$185,800$152 larger
Western Grove, AR 72685 93%819$48,750$203,900$153 Very close on everything we compare
Freedom, NY 14065 92%201$61,058$163,200$115 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Manns Choice, PA 15550 92%27$53,750$160,800$100 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Monroeton, PA 18832 92%184$52,961$152,400$116 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Galien, MI 49113 92%441$59,219$171,600$117 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Kaleva, MI 49645 92%505$56,300$145,200$122 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Blackduck, MN 56630 92%971$50,333$176,900$110 Very close on everything we compare
Otterville, MO 65348 92%773$52,125$207,400$122 7 min longer commute
Huntington, AR 72940 92%916$58,056$167,300$152 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Altona, NY 12910 91%445$53,021$140,700— cheaper homes ($57K less)
Marion Center, PA 15759 91%86$57,132$168,600$119 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Corydon, KY 42406 91%507$62,470$187,200$132 larger · older residents
Rosedale, IN 47874 91%463$50,168$155,000$102 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Sterling, MI 48659 91%418$58,750$146,200$137 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Allen, MI 49227 91%362$53,587$159,000— cheaper homes ($39K less)
Soldiers Grove, WI 54655 91%681$56,010$220,900$138 Very close on everything we compare
Ogema, MN 56569 91%1,010$57,434$209,500— Very close on everything we compare

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.