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 Iola, KS 66749

Iola: median income $60,093, home value $107,000, $96/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Olney, IL 62450 95%401$62,096$116,500$97 larger
Clinton, OK 73601 95%259$59,630$129,300$93 Very close on everything we compare
Monmouth, IL 61462 94%327$64,113$102,900$92 older homes
Creston, IA 50801 93%223$58,015$124,900$106 Very close on everything we compare
Litchfield, IL 62056 93%323$62,643$126,500$98 older residents
Beardstown, IL 62618 93%303$65,208$89,100— Very close on everything we compare
Carrollton, MO 64633 93%143$58,726$128,400$125 smaller
Pascagoula, MS 39567 92%652$62,254$139,500$93 pricier homes ($33K more)
Herrin, IL 62948 92%348$60,975$116,700$89 larger
Red Oak, IA 51566 91%213$56,637$134,200$109 pricier homes ($27K more)
Rock Falls, IL 61071 91%402$60,508$102,300$109 larger
Saint Joseph, MO 64504 91%126$58,801$127,100$112 Very close on everything we compare
Trenton, MO 64683 91%177$52,109$110,000$78 Very close on everything we compare
Perry, OK 73077 91%154$62,763$132,700$111 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
Littlefield, TX 79339 91%476$60,375$79,000$82 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Chariton, IA 50049 90%241$61,190$124,900$107 Very close on everything we compare
Tama, IA 52339 90%316$67,612$121,400$96 smaller
Lawrenceville, IL 62439 90%422$53,622$100,600$82 Very close on everything we compare
East Prairie, MO 63845 90%340$51,207$110,200$91 Very close on everything we compare
Chillicothe, MO 64601 90%163$63,061$153,900$108 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Vernon, TX 76384 90%340$53,564$89,700$84 larger
Pampa, TX 79065 90%349$58,912$110,000$97 larger
Slaton, TX 79364 90%468$56,538$89,300$106 Very close on everything we compare
Haskell, TX 79521 90%409$64,294$117,400$118 smaller · older residents
Flatwoods, KY 41139 89%689$59,034$112,700$110 Very close on everything we compare

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.