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 Oakes, ND 58474

Oakes: median income $72,969, home value $160,700, $342/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hoxie, KS 67740 94%482$75,417$186,600— pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Manson, IA 50563 93%307$71,094$161,100$335 6 min longer commute
Groton, SD 57445 93%46$84,948$193,800— pricier homes ($33K more)
Ellsworth, KS 67439 92%510$73,409$158,300— Very close on everything we compare
Ord, NE 68862 92%314$60,321$163,100— Very close on everything we compare
Imperial, NE 69033 92%422$67,135$171,300— older residents
Hemingford, NE 69348 91%354$76,719$133,600— cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Oakley, KS 67748 90%502$78,083$137,100— Very close on everything we compare
Atkinson, NE 68713 90%249$77,500$195,000— pricier homes ($34K more)
Smithville, OH 44677 89%895$75,435$230,600$247 pricier homes ($70K more)
Chinook, MT 59523 89%542$73,906$218,300— pricier homes ($58K more)
Tribune, KS 67879 89%556$80,536$114,800— cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Alma, NE 68920 89%418$80,938$166,700— smaller
Lenox, IA 50851 88%405$70,926$121,000— cheaper homes ($40K less)
Platte, SD 57369 88%189$78,100$237,400— pricier homes ($77K more)
Martin, SD 57551 88%266$70,096$161,900— more renters
Pine Level, NC 27568 87%1,270$66,071$230,800— pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller
Broadus, MT 59317 87%344$71,250$197,400— pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
New Alexandria, PA 15670 86%1,022$79,345$195,400$301 pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Kersey, PA 15846 86%1,030$70,662$165,700— older residents
Merigold, MS 38759 86%935$77,083$143,400— smaller
Eddyville, IA 52553 86%442$64,583$150,000— 6 min longer commute
Albion, IL 62806 86%744$66,776$120,800— cheaper homes ($40K less)
Frankfort, KS 66427 86%449$79,481$133,600— cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · older residents
Burwell, NE 68823 86%300$61,974$174,100— 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.