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 Ossian, IA 52161

Ossian: median income $87,870, home value $171,400, $182/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Helena, OH 43435 93%450$89,000$176,400$167 6 min longer commute
Canistota, SD 57012 93%279$94,375$180,200$199 6 min longer commute
Convoy, OH 45832 92%393$83,000$161,200$186 larger
Leigh, NE 68643 92%296$77,125$156,900— smaller
Memphis, NY 13112 91%774$96,615$195,400$160 Very close on everything we compare
Elba, NY 14058 91%685$102,750$151,500$179 larger
Wolcott, IN 47995 91%294$80,179$161,800$133 Very close on everything we compare
Mapleton, MN 56065 91%122$92,933$223,100$146 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Randolph, NE 68771 91%287$83,580$162,500— Very close on everything we compare
Humphrey, NE 68642 90%309$93,798$266,400$191 pricier homes ($95K more)
Luckey, OH 43443 89%440$97,917$207,100$115 pricier homes ($36K more)
Alexandria, SD 57311 89%302$103,839$186,800$188 older residents
Elgin, NE 68636 89%331$78,056$113,800— cheaper homes ($58K less)
New Knoxville, OH 45871 88%425$87,500$211,700$204 pricier homes ($40K more) · older residents
New Ross, IN 47968 88%339$83,242$213,400$230 pricier homes ($42K more)
Armour, SD 57313 88%331$89,107$117,300— cheaper homes ($54K less)
Utica, NE 68456 88%324$89,550$202,900$137 pricier homes ($32K more)
Clarkson, NE 68629 88%290$78,438$132,800— cheaper homes ($39K less)
Saranac, NY 12981 87%902$76,450$182,300$166 Very close on everything we compare
Aurora, NY 13026 87%763$96,324$206,100$195 pricier homes ($35K more)
Scipio Center, NY 13147 87%767$74,934$155,600$152 Very close on everything we compare
Stafford, NY 14143 87%690$95,893$181,900$159 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Cygnet, OH 43413 87%436$80,069$139,700$137 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Arcadia, OH 44804 87%446$95,469$193,500$197 older homes
New Riegel, OH 44853 87%457$90,281$156,100— older residents

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.