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, IA 51560

Oakland: median income $75,481, home value $177,100, $123/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elbow Lake, MN 56531 95%325$74,583$154,100$104 Very close on everything we compare
Granville, IL 61326 94%319$70,880$148,100$117 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Moweaqua, IL 62550 94%354$73,634$149,600$105 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Ponca, NE 68770 94%111$71,607$199,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Stanton, NE 68779 94%103$78,594$203,300$106 pricier homes ($26K more)
Mitchell, NE 69357 94%437$70,104$182,400$118 larger
Arnold, NE 69120 93%248$69,886$158,200— Very close on everything we compare
Shullsburg, WI 53586 92%279$70,806$166,100$106 Very close on everything we compare
Port Edwards, WI 54469 92%349$74,038$153,400$108 more homeowners
Winnebago, MN 56098 92%181$69,000$147,900$103 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Kerkhoven, MN 56252 92%269$82,571$207,100$128 pricier homes ($30K more)
Raymond, MN 56282 92%256$69,896$201,400$110 Very close on everything we compare
Alcester, SD 57001 92%133$69,531$177,400$166 Very close on everything we compare
Pleasant Hill, OH 45359 91%584$77,083$208,700$140 pricier homes ($32K more) · more homeowners
Blair, WI 54616 91%295$72,222$180,900$146 newer homes
Independence, WI 54747 91%291$70,820$192,600$99 larger
Dakota, IL 61018 91%309$76,471$157,800— smaller
Oglesby, IL 61348 91%328$76,369$146,800$143 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Minonk, IL 61760 91%331$75,362$120,600$107 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Halstead, KS 67056 91%255$78,958$169,200$111 larger
Tahoka, TX 79373 91%663$74,728$137,100$116 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Shamokin Dam, PA 17876 90%965$70,972$203,500$110 pricier homes ($26K more)
Republic, OH 44867 90%642$72,716$167,000$96 Very close on everything we compare
Elroy, WI 53929 90%309$65,568$187,000$130 larger · more homeowners
Webster, SD 57274 90%297$68,083$173,200$139 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.