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 Ovalo, TX 79541

Ovalo: median income $71,032, home value $271,400, $219/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Augusta, MI 49012 94%1,060$73,125$253,900$214 larger
Rockland, WI 54653 94%944$72,596$264,200$240 Very close on everything we compare
Linwood, KS 66052 94%544$82,411$340,200$212 pricier homes ($69K more)
Fairfield, MT 59436 92%1,245$80,652$324,100$220 pricier homes ($53K more)
Jefferson, ME 04348 91%1,831$78,929$286,300$226 larger
Clarksville, MI 48815 91%1,084$85,962$244,200$213 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Houston, MN 55943 91%920$72,411$239,600$209 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Ironton, MN 56455 91%1,037$73,214$222,600$163 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Wolcott, VT 05680 90%1,699$72,917$227,700$267 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older residents
South Wales, NY 14139 90%1,370$86,402$285,100$226 Very close on everything we compare
Volant, PA 16156 90%1,245$69,054$221,400— cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Lenhartsville, PA 19534 90%1,448$80,357$293,100$204 older residents
Roseland, VA 22967 90%1,240$87,337$255,200$262 larger
Pleasantville, OH 43148 90%1,101$72,072$242,000$202 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Conklin, MI 49403 90%1,075$85,000$279,600$207 larger
Cambridge, IA 50046 90%757$81,500$229,200$243 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Strum, WI 54770 90%971$83,636$226,500$189 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Chilhowee, MO 64733 90%558$77,083$218,100$259 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 5 min longer commute
Malad City, ID 83252 90%972$76,328$271,600$229 larger
Menan, ID 83434 90%1,036$82,731$277,400$192 Very close on everything we compare
Cornish, ME 04020 89%1,762$69,038$274,200$201 Very close on everything we compare
Groton, VT 05046 89%1,703$84,375$259,000$202 Very close on everything we compare
West Burke, VT 05871 89%1,726$74,572$277,900$209 Very close on everything we compare
Jamestown, IN 46147 89%912$80,707$216,800$203 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Horton, MI 49246 89%1,086$81,908$254,100$241 larger

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.