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 Olpe, KS 66865

Olpe: median income $93,333, home value $181,600, $125/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Congerville, IL 61729 93%407$101,172$259,100— pricier homes ($78K more)
Alton, IA 51003 91%326$101,250$232,700$119 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Elm Creek, NE 68836 90%241$86,806$224,800$115 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Laurens, NY 13796 89%1,144$88,750$166,900$112 older residents
Spruce Pine, AL 35585 89%536$92,679$211,200$94 pricier homes ($30K more)
Rudolph, OH 43462 89%696$88,000$166,800$114 Very close on everything we compare
Minier, IL 61759 89%397$91,591$161,700$114 older homes
Battle Creek, NE 68715 89%269$95,714$238,800$123 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Gruver, TX 79040 89%318$84,583$156,400$122 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Courtland, MN 56021 88%427$96,563$276,800$140 pricier homes ($95K more) · older residents
Castle Dale, UT 84513 88%801$82,958$218,200$152 pricier homes ($37K more) · more walkable
Deansboro, NY 13328 87%1,133$105,000$204,000$166 older residents
Botkins, OH 45306 87%659$86,354$255,600$157 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger
Donnellson, IA 52625 87%297$80,078$205,300$125 larger · older residents
Mediapolis, IA 52637 87%329$81,477$194,500$169 larger
Hamel, IL 62046 87%345$108,036$250,000$150 pricier homes ($68K more)
Pleasanton, NE 68866 87%245$94,792$262,300— pricier homes ($81K more) · older residents
Clayville, NY 13322 86%1,142$91,369$204,800$141 older residents · older homes
Adams Center, NY 13606 86%1,117$88,977$203,900$143 larger
Belle Haven, VA 23306 86%1,106$108,438$280,600$103 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger
Sweetser, IN 46987 86%578$80,893$152,500— cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Dayton, IN 47941 86%524$78,553$175,400$146 Very close on everything we compare
Pewamo, MI 48873 86%678$86,250$195,300$174 older residents
Sully, IA 50251 86%290$91,061$186,200$153 older homes
Winthrop, IA 50682 86%375$89,375$183,800$142 larger · older 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.