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 Kirksville, MO 63501

Kirksville: median income $60,729, home value $168,200, $114/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pittsburg, KS 66762 93%224$50,511$145,300$110 Very close on everything we compare
Charleston, IL 61920 92%239$52,429$149,200$104 Very close on everything we compare
Hays, KS 67601 92%371$61,417$227,300$133 pricier homes ($59K more)
Canton, NY 13617 90%937$71,663$161,300$131 smaller
Clarion, PA 16214 90%695$57,521$171,600$107 smaller
Stevens Point, WI 54481 90%337$59,545$201,000$168 pricier homes ($33K more)
Emporia, KS 66801 90%228$56,794$152,700$117 Very close on everything we compare
Wichita Falls, TX 76308 90%546$74,772$213,500$131 pricier homes ($45K more)
Potsdam, NY 13676 88%948$56,170$160,200$147 smaller
Big Rapids, MI 49307 87%438$60,358$187,800$157 Very close on everything we compare
Lubbock, TX 79413 87%689$69,400$208,600$117 pricier homes ($40K more) · more single-family homes
Platteville, WI 53818 86%207$55,567$236,700$157 pricier homes ($69K more)
Fayetteville, NC 28303 85%824$58,223$189,500$142 older residents
Martin, TN 38237 85%334$51,670$200,900$138 pricier homes ($33K more)
Shreveport, LA 71105 85%538$67,968$213,000$120 pricier homes ($45K more) · older residents
Kingsville, TX 78363 85%932$60,574$163,300$126 5 min longer commute
Junction City, KS 66441 84%240$59,522$169,800$115 5 min longer commute
Weatherford, OK 73096 84%463$59,138$248,600$134 pricier homes ($80K more) · newer homes
Wichita Falls, TX 76302 84%545$59,590$165,800$133 smaller · older residents
Huntington, WV 25705 83%560$61,329$165,300$114 older residents · 5 min longer commute
Murray, KY 42071 83%339$50,198$190,300$151 older residents
Winona, MN 55987 83%269$61,624$221,800$157 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · older residents
Wichita, KS 67220 83%303$64,338$214,800$118 pricier homes ($47K more) · newer homes
Wayne, NE 68787 83%270$60,275$230,700— pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller
Chadron, NE 69337 83%568$54,306$163,800— smaller · older homes

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.