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 Oskaloosa, KS 66066

Oskaloosa: median income $79,990, home value $225,700, $107/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lawtons, NY 14091 95%885$82,833$236,200— smaller
Pilot Grove, MO 65276 95%130$78,958$186,300— cheaper homes ($39K less)
Belfield, ND 58622 94%656$82,692$239,000$140 Very close on everything we compare
Russellville, MO 65074 94%163$74,464$178,800$128 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Volant, PA 16156 93%805$69,054$221,400— Very close on everything we compare
Reedsville, PA 17084 93%941$80,197$197,000$121 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Velva, ND 58790 93%673$83,233$224,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Louisville, OH 43071 92%691$78,824$222,900$128 Very close on everything we compare
Minford, OH 45653 92%668$82,125$176,100— cheaper homes ($50K less)
Deputy, IN 47230 92%521$80,729$238,400$129 Very close on everything we compare
Eden Valley, MN 55329 92%422$79,453$223,200$125 older residents
Mannsville, NY 13661 91%1,040$82,297$183,400$117 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Thompsontown, PA 17094 91%963$66,375$196,100$123 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Rome, PA 18837 91%1,013$71,131$188,100$101 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Alexandria, AL 36250 91%643$83,406$211,600$140 larger
Donnellson, IA 52625 91%222$80,078$205,300$125 6 min shorter commute
Cashton, WI 54619 91%392$71,463$230,200$149 larger
Melrose, WI 54642 91%405$73,452$210,600$152 Very close on everything we compare
Almond, WI 54909 91%466$80,417$195,800$139 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Grove City, MN 56243 91%412$71,528$178,900$126 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Ironton, MN 56455 91%506$73,214$222,600$163 Very close on everything we compare
Divernon, IL 62530 91%303$82,188$160,100$104 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Morrisville, MO 65710 91%158$77,865$231,000— smaller
Okarche, OK 73762 91%279$93,194$261,700$117 pricier homes ($36K more)
Buskirk, NY 12028 90%1,164$96,891$247,700— smaller

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.