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 Onaga, KS 66521

Onaga: median income $61,250, home value $193,000, $75/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ravenna, NE 68869 93%179$65,208$169,400$79 larger
West Union, IA 52175 92%328$59,800$160,600$88 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Akron, CO 80720 92%377$65,913$219,100$96 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Lakota, ND 58344 91%596$66,957$159,000$91 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Marion, SD 57043 90%278$64,375$221,500$81 pricier homes ($29K more) · more homeowners
Ada, MN 56510 89%542$70,000$145,700$82 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Wenona, IL 61377 89%391$57,321$139,500$86 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Avoca, IA 51521 88%144$73,769$202,800$73 Very close on everything we compare
Raymond, MN 56282 88%385$69,896$201,400$110 Very close on everything we compare
Harlowton, MT 59036 88%840$50,000$186,000$91 Very close on everything we compare
Ord, NE 68862 88%206$60,321$163,100— cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Arnold, NE 69120 88%249$69,886$158,200— cheaper homes ($35K less)
Dayton, IA 50530 87%221$73,250$167,900— cheaper homes ($25K less) · 5 min longer commute
Chester, MT 59522 87%959$57,212$177,100$88 Very close on everything we compare
Reinbeck, IA 50669 86%270$81,650$183,000$87 larger
George, IA 51237 86%267$61,667$159,500$89 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more homeowners
Ruthven, IA 51358 86%261$64,583$150,500$74 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more homeowners
Eddyville, IA 52553 86%219$64,583$150,000— cheaper homes ($43K less) · more homeowners
Ivanhoe, MN 56142 86%344$57,500$120,500$63 cheaper homes ($73K less) · more homeowners
Jackson, MN 56143 86%294$70,771$162,400$67 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Fullerton, NE 68638 86%160$56,917$144,500$96 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Osceola, NE 68651 86%139$78,487$191,300$99 Very close on everything we compare
Stanton, NE 68779 86%176$78,594$203,300$106 larger
Julesburg, CO 80737 86%337$52,500$161,700$90 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Mars Hill, ME 04758 85%1,501$65,156$162,200$120 cheaper homes ($31K less)

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.