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 Oskaloosa, IA 52577

Oskaloosa: median income $66,084, home value $163,300, $116/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cayce, SC 29033 92%810$61,237$163,800$167 Very close on everything we compare
Pascagoula, MS 39567 91%789$62,254$139,500$93 Very close on everything we compare
Ashland, WI 54806 91%376$64,864$185,800$112 less walkable
Hannibal, MO 63401 91%128$60,036$152,100$116 less walkable
Topeka, KS 66605 91%223$59,106$170,500$126 Very close on everything we compare
Salina, KS 67401 91%315$64,606$180,200$115 larger
Toledo, OH 43623 90%466$71,171$169,300$146 6 min longer commute
Sandusky, OH 44870 89%515$62,082$163,200$139 larger
Lima, OH 45805 89%444$68,842$160,600$141 larger · less walkable
Beech Grove, IN 46107 89%361$56,799$181,100$126 5 min longer commute
Washington, IN 47501 89%342$62,982$172,800$129 less walkable
Vincennes, IN 47591 89%327$61,803$157,400$106 larger · less walkable
Terre Haute, IN 47803 89%306$60,565$156,300$138 Very close on everything we compare
Holdrege, NE 68949 89%356$63,273$197,200$114 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Longview, TX 75601 89%617$65,700$210,500$146 pricier homes ($47K more) · less walkable
Corpus Christi, TX 78411 89%975$57,742$184,700$143 larger
Wickliffe, OH 44092 88%579$70,801$175,600$166 Very close on everything we compare
Vandalia, OH 45377 88%453$77,398$202,800$164 pricier homes ($40K more)
Lansing, MI 48906 88%427$64,315$139,700$132 larger · older homes
Oshkosh, WI 54902 88%280$65,612$170,800$180 larger
Fairview Heights, IL 62208 88%233$80,205$176,000$134 6 min longer commute
Lincoln, IL 62656 88%189$62,017$141,600$109 less walkable
Sikeston, MO 63801 88%346$62,698$156,700$121 larger · less walkable
Independence, MO 64055 88%180$62,439$176,700$142 larger · 7 min longer commute
Chillicothe, MO 64601 88%114$63,061$153,900$108 less walkable

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.