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 Ridge, MO 63769

Oak Ridge: median income $91,146, home value $195,800, $146/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gifford, IL 61847 94%213$92,344$182,700$149 Very close on everything we compare
Julian, PA 16844 93%673$85,147$228,300$113 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Converse, IN 46919 93%296$83,664$193,300$153 Very close on everything we compare
Montrose, WV 26283 92%551$75,556$153,500$131 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Hope, MI 48628 92%517$93,854$215,600$135 larger
Bruceville, TX 76630 92%604$83,950$263,700$176 pricier homes ($68K more)
Springville, PA 18844 91%791$92,750$246,300— pricier homes ($51K more)
Rockfield, KY 42274 91%178$80,704$182,100$152 larger
Dawson, IL 62520 91%162$84,500$226,400$101 pricier homes ($31K more)
Mechanicsburg, IL 62545 91%157$84,815$178,900$136 Very close on everything we compare
Gilboa, NY 12076 90%879$84,583$225,600$182 pricier homes ($30K more) · 6 min longer commute
Watauga, TN 37694 90%421$81,250$203,300$190 6 min shorter commute
Shellsburg, IA 52332 90%335$92,708$198,000$155 younger residents
Frankfort, ME 04438 89%1,185$80,000$211,300— 6 min longer commute
Irasburg, VT 05845 89%1,036$82,262$233,200$197 pricier homes ($37K more) · younger residents
New Woodstock, NY 13122 89%819$81,500$282,300$149 pricier homes ($87K more)
West Monroe, NY 13167 89%821$85,294$176,200$189 larger
Sweet Valley, PA 18656 89%771$76,804$233,000$162 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Red House, WV 25168 89%433$101,660$207,200$154 larger
Sadieville, KY 40370 89%290$94,234$284,200$165 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger
Belmont, OH 43718 89%502$92,576$228,000$146 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Vincent, OH 45784 89%455$82,713$229,800$183 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Silver Lake, IN 46982 89%321$79,688$190,400$137 larger
Elmira, MI 49730 89%579$79,679$207,200$198 larger
Livonia, LA 70755 89%492$86,071$192,200$152 Very close on everything we compare

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.