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 Oronoco, MN 55960

Oronoco: median income $130,227, home value $481,200, $214/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hartsburg, MO 65039 94%376$125,714$412,400$176 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Swisher, IA 52338 93%166$119,605$392,700$170 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Clancy, MT 59634 93%959$129,891$553,900$264 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger
Roca, NE 68430 93%320$145,729$468,900$233 smaller
North Prairie, WI 53153 91%221$152,543$430,100$271 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Malcolm, NE 68402 91%316$123,000$449,000$241 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Lee, NH 03861 90%1,074$131,579$480,600$281 5 min longer commute
Bishop, GA 30621 90%862$117,917$463,600$208 larger
Mendon, UT 84325 90%998$116,094$609,300$219 pricier homes ($128K more)
Southampton, MA 01073 89%1,002$123,125$452,300$303 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
East Granby, CT 06026 89%1,006$119,375$388,000$233 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · older homes
Solon, IA 52333 89%169$118,721$366,900$177 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger
Wales, WI 53183 89%220$108,827$398,700$207 cheaper homes ($83K less) · older homes
Fogelsville, PA 18051 88%892$139,506$459,600$213 more renters
Penn Laird, VA 22846 88%814$115,491$450,000$209 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Seaford, VA 23696 88%967$142,788$427,100$227 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older homes
Pewee Valley, KY 40056 88%543$134,115$339,900$207 cheaper homes ($141K less)
Alto, MI 49302 88%365$134,722$400,700$216 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Arcadia, OK 73007 88%640$120,556$494,200$230 newer homes
Earlysville, VA 22936 87%836$142,338$589,400$251 pricier homes ($108K more) · larger
Maidens, VA 23102 87%883$126,635$510,200$272 pricier homes ($29K more) · 6 min longer commute
Belmont, MI 49306 87%354$115,039$373,500$214 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Peosta, IA 52068 87%145$125,901$361,700$174 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger
Colgate, WI 53017 87%222$153,917$521,700$221 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Port Matilda, PA 16870 86%769$121,528$411,100$235 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · more walkable

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.