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 Oblong, IL 62449

Oblong: median income $59,555, home value $98,800, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hale Center, TX 79041 97%846$61,832$101,000$79 Very close on everything we compare
South Fulton, TN 38257 96%182$58,849$103,100$127 larger
La Grange, MO 63448 96%206$61,417$117,800$137 smaller
Corydon, IA 50060 93%313$63,438$117,300$106 Very close on everything we compare
Shinglehouse, PA 16748 92%549$61,250$104,000$71 6 min longer commute
Newberry, MI 49868 92%521$55,074$94,500$113 larger
Fredonia, KS 66736 92%437$62,443$93,200$58 Very close on everything we compare
Watonga, OK 73772 92%616$58,591$116,900$72 Very close on everything we compare
Norfolk, NY 13667 91%777$59,849$99,700$86 6 min longer commute
Conklin, NY 13748 91%668$62,125$122,900$121 older homes
Cuba, NY 14727 91%550$63,257$108,000$107 larger
Pineville, WV 24874 91%359$54,596$96,600— smaller
Clinton, KY 42031 91%172$57,097$118,700$84 Very close on everything we compare
Lanse, MI 49946 91%537$55,341$130,900$206 pricier homes ($32K more)
Wheaton, MN 56296 91%642$53,527$103,800$73 smaller
Milan, MO 63556 91%291$58,851$124,100$107 pricier homes ($25K more)
Galena, KS 66739 91%391$52,289$83,000$108 larger
De Witt, AR 72042 91%377$55,679$127,500$67 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Van Horn, TX 79855 91%1,102$58,910$79,300— Very close on everything we compare
Brasher Falls, NY 13613 90%786$58,846$116,600$83 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Norwood, NY 13668 90%772$63,393$115,400$60 5 min longer commute
White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986 90%419$50,610$121,000$105 larger
Nortonville, KY 42442 90%128$58,190$124,500$162 pricier homes ($26K more) · 5 min longer commute
Sturgis, KY 42459 90%100$51,563$96,600$105 6 min longer commute
La Fontaine, IN 46940 90%165$64,089$128,100$127 pricier homes ($29K more)

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.