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 Stratford, OK 74872

Stratford: median income $56,321, home value $182,100, $120/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marionville, MO 65705 96%242$61,000$166,800$116 larger
Hartford, AL 36344 95%700$60,377$173,500$140 larger
Cairo, NY 12413 94%1,341$60,363$232,800$128 pricier homes ($51K more)
Lindale, GA 30147 94%673$61,351$148,600$130 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Ackerman, MS 39735 94%456$51,820$147,600— cheaper homes ($35K less)
Beecher City, IL 62414 94%544$58,370$157,800— smaller
Goodrich, TX 77335 94%311$53,300$171,600$154 Very close on everything we compare
Kenbridge, VA 23944 93%1,064$59,321$146,700$144 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Lilesville, NC 28091 93%963$52,917$152,900— cheaper homes ($29K less)
New Ellenton, SC 29809 93%879$55,234$154,800$156 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Sumiton, AL 35148 93%571$56,574$162,700$144 Very close on everything we compare
Hillsboro, WI 54634 93%703$60,945$198,800$129 larger
La Farge, WI 54639 93%698$61,375$209,700$130 pricier homes ($28K more)
Maysville, MO 64469 93%383$62,059$154,000$132 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Sheldon, MO 64784 93%252$53,654$165,700$114 smaller
Bronte, TX 76933 93%277$55,104$157,500$132 smaller
Marion Center, PA 15759 92%1,062$57,132$168,600$119 older residents
Crisfield, MD 21817 92%1,194$55,720$161,000$112 larger
Philippi, WV 26416 92%981$54,741$152,200$113 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Alamo, TN 38001 92%446$53,438$159,200$157 Very close on everything we compare
Beverly, OH 45715 92%906$47,176$176,000$115 Very close on everything we compare
Oakwood, OH 45873 92%812$62,162$159,700$118 Very close on everything we compare
Marlette, MI 48453 92%951$53,676$163,800$145 larger
Wellman, IA 52356 92%540$57,321$227,800$135 pricier homes ($46K more)
Blackduck, MN 56630 92%905$50,333$176,900$110 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.