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.

Reset

Towns most like Okoboji, IA 51355

Okoboji: median income $72,262, home value $421,100, $340/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sister Bay, WI 54234 86%416$74,583$456,300$339 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · older residents
Ludlow, VT 05149 85%1,123$64,191$365,300$300 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
North Woodstock, NH 03262 81%1,168$85,667$319,800$273 cheaper homes ($101K less) · less walkable
Ellicottville, NY 14731 80%837$67,583$286,800$287 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Elk Rapids, MI 49629 80%493$65,302$394,600$333 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 79%1,100$63,464$346,700$288 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Ouray, CO 81427 78%753$84,167$604,200$291 pricier homes ($183K more)
North Conway, NH 03860 77%1,196$71,759$401,500$281 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Warren, VT 05674 76%1,110$86,905$569,300$359 pricier homes ($148K more) · larger · more homeowners
Joseph, OR 97846 74%1,095$71,471$383,200$341 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Manchester Center, VT 05255 73%1,108$91,058$445,500$270 larger · more single-family homes
Winchester, OR 97495 73%1,409$77,986$451,300$255 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · more homeowners
Long Beach, WA 98631 73%1,422$71,705$409,400$335 larger · more single-family homes · more walkable
Damariscotta, ME 04543 72%1,276$59,423$363,500$431 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · younger residents
Lake Placid, NY 12946 72%1,053$77,548$467,000$363 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · younger residents
Blue Lake, CA 95525 72%1,475$57,379$478,600$224 pricier homes ($58K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Egg Harbor, WI 54209 71%405$77,188$386,700$335 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Saint Regis, MT 59866 71%1,007$73,462$343,700$304 cheaper homes ($77K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Leeds, MA 01053 70%1,135$92,582$356,900$299 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064 70%1,237$59,887$361,700$370 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 70%1,332$59,205$428,500$456 younger residents · more renters · more single-family homes
Tivoli, NY 12583 70%1,079$79,583$462,500$255 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · younger residents
Phoenix, OR 97535 70%1,398$66,052$418,400$264 larger · newer homes
Kent, CT 06757 69%1,106$95,186$406,100$436 larger · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Grand Junction, CO 81506 69%756$78,651$448,300$263 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger

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.