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 Park, MN 56357

Oak Park: median income $114,531, home value $294,300, $299/sq ft, 46-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Welcome, MD 20693 86%990$126,033$375,200$238 pricier homes ($81K more)
Corunna, IN 46730 86%524$116,181$316,500— 7 min shorter commute
Union, NH 03887 84%1,126$91,875$292,800$251 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Suffolk, VA 23438 81%1,087$93,750$292,600$223 newer homes
Cartersville, VA 23027 80%979$95,407$243,200$224 cheaper homes ($51K less) · newer homes
Parker, KS 66072 80%513$101,875$296,800$235 older residents · newer homes
Fairplay, MD 21733 79%918$109,896$291,800$186 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Boston, VA 22713 79%941$90,795$377,200$249 pricier homes ($83K more) · older residents · newer homes
Knotts Island, NC 27950 79%1,121$88,250$290,300$255 lower income ($26K less) · newer homes
Lake Hughes, CA 93532 79%1,502$113,363$435,300$343 pricier homes ($141K more) · larger · more renters
Barhamsville, VA 23011 78%1,043$128,606$387,600$250 pricier homes ($93K more) · newer homes
Thornton, WV 26440 76%832$92,824$216,800— cheaper homes ($78K less) · 8 min shorter commute
North Waterboro, ME 04061 75%1,139$94,023$274,300$305 larger · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Johnsonville, NY 12094 75%1,021$92,266$260,900$215 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Brodheadsville, PA 18322 75%980$121,421$294,000$202 larger · older residents
Nanjemoy, MD 20662 74%986$86,699$397,300$191 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($103K more) · larger
Colora, MD 21917 74%989$96,750$409,400$234 pricier homes ($115K more) · larger · older residents
Kingston, IL 60145 74%353$108,477$268,300$191 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 11 min shorter commute
Saint Elizabeth, MO 65075 74%520$87,431$283,100— lower income ($27K less) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Limerick, ME 04048 73%1,136$101,172$269,400$332 larger · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Churchton, MD 20733 73%1,002$126,797$394,000$300 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger · older residents
Sumerduck, VA 22742 73%963$103,447$464,600$359 pricier homes ($170K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Emmett, MI 48022 73%576$96,809$239,800$238 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · older residents
Keedysville, MD 21756 72%924$101,786$413,200$204 pricier homes ($119K more) · larger · older residents
Unionville, VA 22567 72%963$112,813$391,200$241 pricier homes ($97K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute

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.