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 Oak Ridge, NC 27310

Oak Ridge: median income $165,898, home value $498,900, $217/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Galena, OH 43021 94%320$167,941$564,700$220 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger
Clarence Center, NY 14032 92%480$168,711$502,100$261 5 min longer commute
Cedar Rapids, IA 52411 92%748$170,491$423,200$156 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Mickleton, NJ 08056 91%359$171,389$473,400$223 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Wichita, KS 67230 91%953$149,536$405,800$149 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Earlysville, VA 22936 90%160$142,338$589,400$251 pricier homes ($91K more)
Colgate, WI 53017 90%654$153,917$521,700$221 smaller · younger residents
Shawnee, KS 66218 90%830$168,878$436,600$207 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Monclova, OH 43542 89%425$148,657$402,000$217 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Lake Elmo, MN 55042 88%910$154,341$602,100$236 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Landenberg, PA 19350 87%338$144,375$533,000$212 pricier homes ($34K more) · 6 min longer commute
Indianapolis, IN 46278 87%428$158,648$408,900$154 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Ada, MI 49301 87%553$183,125$548,800$273 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Anchorage, AK 99516 87%3,410$173,984$607,200$278 pricier homes ($108K more) · larger · older homes
Granville, OH 43023 86%303$142,852$473,100$220 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Lenexa, KS 66220 86%830$177,206$590,500$212 pricier homes ($92K more)
Center Valley, PA 18034 85%390$153,200$475,900$235 more apartments and townhomes
Lincoln University, PA 19352 85%335$165,365$473,200$225 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents · 9 min longer commute
Tallahassee, FL 32317 85%460$128,690$369,800$221 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger
Fisherville, KY 40023 85%330$144,635$497,800$184 8 min longer commute
Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 85%368$147,383$439,300$234 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · older homes
Hamel, MN 55340 85%940$178,553$639,100$234 pricier homes ($140K more) · 6 min longer commute
Crystal Lake, IL 60012 85%613$159,375$417,300$198 cheaper homes ($82K less) · 8 min longer commute
Stilwell, KS 66085 85%824$152,500$538,300$241 pricier homes ($39K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Lincoln, NE 68523 85%959$141,786$508,600$193 smaller

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.