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 Tarkio, MO 64491

Tarkio: median income $57,500, home value $91,300, $126/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Appleton, MN 56208 96%331$59,766$102,800$114 Very close on everything we compare
Arma, KS 66712 95%203$53,281$82,700$131 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Olive, IL 62069 92%314$59,764$102,700$109 larger
Blue Rapids, KS 66411 92%85$57,361$85,900— younger residents
Hurley, WI 54534 91%489$53,468$123,600$121 pricier homes ($32K more)
Rising Star, TX 76471 91%608$54,773$141,700$142 pricier homes ($50K more)
Wakefield, MI 49968 90%498$55,759$91,800$97 more homeowners
Mapleton, IA 51034 90%121$66,375$120,500$104 pricier homes ($29K more)
Madison, MN 56256 90%317$65,521$124,200$119 pricier homes ($33K more)
Winfield, IA 52659 89%211$55,125$110,900$156 younger residents
Mankato, KS 66956 89%157$57,232$59,100$123 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Jetmore, KS 67854 89%293$57,104$97,400$95 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Johnstown, PA 15909 88%867$61,016$110,200$107 larger
Charleston, WV 25315 88%754$55,083$90,200$98 larger · younger residents
Scarbro, WV 25917 88%780$60,407$88,700$113 Very close on everything we compare
Walton, IN 46994 88%478$56,563$136,200$102 pricier homes ($45K more)
Allison, IA 50602 88%209$67,188$118,100$108 pricier homes ($27K more)
Corning, IA 50841 88%51$66,875$116,700$95 pricier homes ($25K more)
Oberlin, KS 67749 88%275$54,000$90,100— 5 min shorter commute
Arapahoe, NE 68922 88%238$57,426$107,900— 7 min shorter commute
Island Falls, ME 04747 87%1,411$56,795$120,200$111 pricier homes ($29K more) · newer homes
Sodus, NY 14551 87%961$59,167$123,500$128 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Falconer, NY 14733 87%847$63,068$109,700$131 larger · younger residents
Ontonagon, MI 49953 87%534$59,375$119,800$147 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents
Tyndall, SD 57066 87%218$56,389$112,000$119 more homeowners

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.