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 Oakland, KY 42159

Oakland: median income $66,756, home value $264,400, $159/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gadsden, TN 38337 88%174$63,575$187,100$149 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Bois D Arc, MO 65612 87%402$78,047$241,100$201 Very close on everything we compare
Sloan, IA 51055 86%642$72,143$218,300$156 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Henning, MN 56551 86%797$63,750$238,200$167 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Mathews, VA 23109 85%545$79,196$310,800$187 pricier homes ($46K more)
Markleville, IN 46056 85%210$72,423$229,600$207 cheaper homes ($35K less) · more homeowners
Morristown, IN 46161 85%187$78,603$220,600$214 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Stratton, CO 80836 85%901$65,208$217,800$131 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · younger residents
Paris, OH 44669 84%380$82,411$202,100$153 cheaper homes ($62K less) · older homes
Fairland, IN 46126 84%183$70,607$263,300$157 larger · more homeowners
Tabor, IA 51653 84%573$71,319$230,200$176 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Orfordville, WI 53576 84%420$63,750$225,000$197 cheaper homes ($39K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Endeavor, WI 53930 84%493$72,778$224,200$182 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more homeowners
Gallatin, MO 64640 84%464$61,302$194,300$186 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Burdett, NY 14818 83%625$69,107$231,900$165 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more homeowners
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450 83%472$69,554$264,200$213 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Pleasantville, OH 43148 83%281$72,072$242,000$202 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Farmland, IN 47340 83%229$63,205$175,200$139 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Akron, IA 51001 83%677$75,404$192,700$119 cheaper homes ($72K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Markesan, WI 53946 83%486$72,450$245,500$175 larger · more homeowners
Stoddard, WI 54658 83%530$73,438$249,800$216 more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Solomon, KS 67480 83%619$67,750$174,400$141 cheaper homes ($90K less) · more homeowners
Ponca, NE 68770 83%675$71,607$199,400$143 cheaper homes ($65K less) · older homes
Blue Hill, NE 68930 83%695$65,875$184,000$135 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more homeowners
Shaftsbury, VT 05262 82%802$71,417$253,600$208 more homeowners

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.