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 Steele, MO 63877

Steele: median income $51,923, home value $160,200, $106/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wynnewood, OK 73098 91%426$55,536$169,500$81 Very close on everything we compare
Halls, TN 38040 90%27$49,833$148,800$136 larger
Burlington, KS 66839 89%357$63,077$175,500$119 Very close on everything we compare
Valentine, NE 69201 89%738$62,101$161,300$106 Very close on everything we compare
Davis, OK 73030 89%425$59,612$157,600$96 larger
Brady, TX 76825 89%644$53,665$148,800$122 larger
Marienville, PA 16239 88%685$52,121$107,400$100 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Inverness, MS 38753 88%194$59,000$159,300— smaller
Coalgate, OK 74538 88%375$51,366$124,500$75 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Machias, ME 04654 87%1,313$48,838$171,600$131 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeport, AL 35740 87%244$46,148$141,900$134 more homeowners
Toledo, IA 52342 87%434$57,813$142,700$102 Very close on everything we compare
Girard, KS 66743 87%295$55,515$129,200$111 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Augusta, AR 72006 87%102$51,775$126,800$102 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents
Melbourne, AR 72556 87%116$46,113$152,500$127 Very close on everything we compare
Weber City, VA 24290 86%406$60,923$175,800$113 more homeowners
Iowa Falls, IA 50126 86%480$55,185$133,300$104 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · older homes
Red Oak, IA 51566 86%447$56,637$134,200$109 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · older homes
Fosston, MN 56542 86%850$59,706$186,300$128 pricier homes ($26K more) · more homeowners
Pauls Valley, OK 73075 86%426$54,540$140,800$125 larger
Arapaho, OK 73620 86%512$53,194$157,400$86 smaller · more homeowners
Altavista, VA 24517 85%589$53,201$145,200$151 larger
White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986 85%538$50,610$121,000$105 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · more homeowners
Cannelton, IN 47520 85%215$50,882$162,200$99 more homeowners
Mahnomen, MN 56557 85%837$57,731$143,800$82 younger 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.