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 Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Lake Ozark: median income $86,453, home value $362,800, $239/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oldsmar, FL 34677 91%908$93,474$387,300$249 larger
Sterling Heights, MI 48314 89%591$85,889$331,500$182 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Mechanicville, NY 12118 88%1,044$92,710$345,800$267 larger
Swanzey, NH 03446 87%1,112$85,484$262,100$228 cheaper homes ($101K less) · more single-family homes
Rochester, NH 03868 87%1,187$81,530$268,800$265 cheaper homes ($94K less) · younger residents
Allentown, PA 18106 87%925$92,813$412,200$233 pricier homes ($49K more)
Banner Elk, NC 28604 87%612$76,319$383,800$327 Very close on everything we compare
Clearwater, FL 33762 87%916$87,461$344,700$222 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, WI 53037 87%425$97,611$343,800$214 Very close on everything we compare
Penrose, CO 81240 87%669$90,417$341,400$244 younger residents · more single-family homes
Thorofare, NJ 08086 86%943$97,413$291,300$209 cheaper homes ($72K less) · more walkable
Mount Joy, PA 17552 86%874$97,683$292,500$212 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Gulf Shores, AL 36542 86%615$79,639$383,500$317 larger · newer homes
Saco, ME 04072 85%1,213$92,241$413,100$329 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Sellersville, PA 18960 85%938$109,028$408,300$234 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Walled Lake, MI 48390 85%569$91,381$309,400$205 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · younger residents
Germantown, WI 53022 85%421$100,890$373,400$219 larger
Selkirk, NY 12158 84%1,034$97,419$315,100$242 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Palm Harbor, FL 34685 84%904$94,688$518,000$251 pricier homes ($155K more) · larger
Stoughton, WI 53589 84%373$96,226$341,000$241 larger · more single-family homes
Medical Lake, WA 99022 84%1,415$93,812$389,700$245 pricier homes ($27K more) · more single-family homes
Colchester, VT 05446 83%1,097$97,475$393,200$282 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · younger residents
Honey Brook, PA 19344 83%907$86,890$321,100$211 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Prescott, WI 54021 83%452$97,321$365,300$198 younger residents · more single-family homes
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076 83%458$93,847$323,000$191 cheaper homes ($40K 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.