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 Oscoda, MI 48750

Oscoda: median income $45,561, home value $119,200, $171/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Walton, NY 13856 91%441$48,958$156,500$194 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Ronceverte, WV 24970 91%487$44,118$120,800$190 smaller
Caribou, ME 04736 89%758$54,368$139,000$139 Very close on everything we compare
Mountain Grove, MO 65711 89%685$50,663$110,300$144 younger residents
Independence, VA 24348 88%552$44,829$155,500$173 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Ravenswood, WV 26164 88%389$45,104$137,300$142 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Petersburg, WV 26847 87%435$52,139$180,400$162 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Iuka, MS 38852 87%714$52,942$150,400$134 pricier homes ($31K more)
Clyde, OH 43410 87%218$52,500$164,900$161 pricier homes ($46K more) · younger residents
Horse Cave, KY 42749 86%519$45,500$142,200$152 smaller · more renters
Ash Flat, AR 72513 86%716$40,055$98,100$137 smaller
Ladysmith, WI 54848 85%385$56,736$154,100$169 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · more renters
Johnston City, IL 62951 85%541$50,657$99,700$97 smaller
Geneva, AL 36340 84%936$50,111$107,100$156 smaller · 8 min longer commute
Grove Hill, AL 36451 84%912$54,417$152,400$124 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Antigo, WI 54409 84%287$53,576$123,300$133 younger residents
Warrensburg, NY 12885 83%480$59,429$169,800$169 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller
Sodus, NY 14551 83%326$59,167$123,500$128 smaller
Galax, VA 24333 83%553$47,730$155,400$147 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Marion, VA 24354 83%535$44,502$158,100$119 pricier homes ($39K more) · more renters
Moorefield, WV 26836 83%439$47,770$151,100$159 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · younger residents
Cowpens, SC 29330 83%655$48,243$151,800$163 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents
Burkesville, KY 42717 83%538$42,978$145,100$163 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · younger residents
Winona, MO 65588 83%660$44,500$155,900$158 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Thayer, MO 65791 83%695$42,470$100,500$104 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.