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, TN 37830

Oak Ridge: median income $72,269, home value $270,900, $191/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Staunton, VA 24401 94%322$66,300$278,600$220 Very close on everything we compare
Portage, MI 49002 94%433$73,647$246,400$174 smaller
Troy, OH 45373 93%278$75,742$253,400$168 Very close on everything we compare
Danville, PA 17821 92%537$76,971$249,500$164 smaller
Spartanburg, SC 29302 92%157$80,819$285,400$156 smaller
Council Bluffs, IA 51503 92%721$79,010$262,300$155 Very close on everything we compare
Green Bay, WI 54301 92%617$78,684$225,600$175 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Birmingham, AL 35210 91%218$73,061$255,800$191 smaller
Hickory, NC 28601 90%165$67,817$261,600$183 larger · newer homes
Wooster, OH 44691 90%354$69,920$230,300$182 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Midland, MI 48642 90%527$77,847$207,400$153 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Neenah, WI 54956 90%606$85,869$256,900$191 newer homes
Leavenworth, KS 66048 90%626$72,734$219,100$150 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Salem, VA 24153 89%248$74,260$266,500$157 Very close on everything we compare
Lexington, VA 24450 89%292$76,587$305,100$225 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Frankfort, KY 40601 89%156$65,732$216,700$163 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · newer homes
Oberlin, OH 44074 89%381$80,801$234,200$151 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
North Canton, OH 44720 89%365$82,594$243,500$177 cheaper homes ($27K less) · newer homes
Madison Heights, MI 48071 89%452$69,503$199,100$196 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Oak Park, MI 48237 89%449$71,510$212,300$165 cheaper homes ($59K less) · more walkable
Waterford, MI 48328 89%460$72,299$222,900$195 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Midland, MI 48640 89%527$80,574$200,700$147 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Sheboygan, WI 53083 89%570$75,203$244,800$188 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · newer homes
Jefferson City, MO 65101 89%467$74,807$243,600$142 cheaper homes ($27K less) · newer homes
Grove City, PA 16127 88%421$72,429$213,700$191 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 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.