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 Osceola, NE 68651

Osceola: median income $78,487, home value $191,300, $99/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marcus, IA 51035 97%144$79,338$209,700$109 Very close on everything we compare
Raymond, MN 56282 96%289$69,896$201,400$110 Very close on everything we compare
Freeman, SD 57029 96%150$73,750$179,700$107 larger
Parkston, SD 57366 95%154$78,155$184,600$104 larger
Reinbeck, IA 50669 94%267$81,650$183,000$87 larger
Odebolt, IA 51458 94%142$86,250$149,400— cheaper homes ($42K less)
Mountain Lake, MN 56159 93%232$71,648$161,800$96 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Dawson, MN 56232 93%269$75,069$172,300$92 larger
Wabasso, MN 56293 93%250$67,396$170,500$103 Very close on everything we compare
Lakota, ND 58344 93%470$66,957$159,000$91 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Rockwell, IA 50469 92%255$71,250$211,700$97 older residents
Glidden, IA 51443 92%158$78,906$191,000$139 Very close on everything we compare
Elkader, IA 52043 92%335$76,705$165,000$131 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Clara City, MN 56222 92%283$71,429$156,600$96 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Elbow Lake, MN 56531 92%341$74,583$154,100$104 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Haxtun, CO 80731 92%266$74,375$235,300$83 pricier homes ($44K more)
Adair, IA 50002 91%153$79,071$237,700$139 pricier homes ($46K more)
Lake Mills, IA 50450 91%256$76,125$158,000$116 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Hawarden, IA 51023 91%137$80,357$173,300$99 larger
Fort Atkinson, IA 52144 91%318$84,609$217,500$101 pricier homes ($26K more)
Slayton, MN 56172 91%213$71,875$187,300$96 larger
Clear Lake, SD 57226 91%250$83,125$206,400$102 newer homes
Moweaqua, IL 62550 91%462$73,634$149,600$105 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Hoxie, KS 67740 91%201$75,417$186,600— Very close on everything we compare
Akron, CO 80720 91%305$65,913$219,100$96 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger

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.