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 Oakland, OR 97462

Oakland: median income $68,507, home value $400,400, $183/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Fork, CA 93643 92%476$71,082$381,700$203 older residents
Urbanna, VA 23175 91%2,455$66,858$369,000$215 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · older residents
Alstead, NH 03602 89%2,525$70,455$279,400$216 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller
Brookfield, MA 01506 87%2,557$81,250$341,900$267 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Beach Lake, PA 18405 87%2,425$72,472$253,700$146 cheaper homes ($147K less) · smaller
Lower Lake, CA 95457 87%318$63,594$488,800$241 pricier homes ($88K more) · more renters
Eddington, ME 04428 86%2,666$72,857$244,500$159 cheaper homes ($156K less)
Alburgh, VT 05440 86%2,465$76,429$268,300$199 cheaper homes ($132K less) · smaller
Danville, VT 05828 86%2,508$72,121$279,100$208 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller
Saluda, VA 23149 86%2,456$70,743$282,500$206 cheaper homes ($118K less) · smaller
Nashville, IN 47448 86%1,932$72,537$312,600$196 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · younger residents
Clarksville, VA 23927 85%2,387$70,938$295,500$198 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Auberry, CA 93602 85%486$78,016$370,700$221 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Shingletown, CA 96088 85%217$65,958$292,000$202 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Moncure, NC 27559 84%2,391$74,490$385,000$233 smaller · newer homes
Spring Hill, FL 34607 84%2,470$66,422$398,900$282 larger · newer homes
Graford, TX 76449 84%1,533$72,813$398,700$299 smaller · newer homes
Hotchkiss, CO 81419 84%872$59,735$364,200$324 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Mariposa, CA 95338 84%450$67,485$393,400$237 larger · more renters · newer homes
Lakehead, CA 96051 84%182$69,688$360,000$170 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Morton, WA 98356 84%221$60,060$308,500$279 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller
Cuddebackville, NY 12729 83%2,453$66,982$330,100$175 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Sudlersville, MD 21668 83%2,449$78,672$348,400$162 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · younger residents
Westfield, NC 27053 83%2,301$67,974$224,500$180 cheaper homes ($176K less)
Luck, WI 54853 83%1,522$75,000$245,100$215 cheaper homes ($155K less)

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.