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 Arapahoe, NE 68922

Arapahoe: median income $57,426, home value $107,900, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, KS 66968 96%154$59,438$124,900$49 Very close on everything we compare
Kimball, NE 69145 94%207$58,846$112,400$92 larger
Buffalo Center, IA 50424 93%373$59,091$114,500$48 Very close on everything we compare
Jetmore, KS 67854 93%154$57,104$97,400$95 Very close on everything we compare
Red Cloud, NE 68970 93%74$58,523$95,000$55 Very close on everything we compare
La Crosse, KS 67548 92%126$55,313$85,000$97 Very close on everything we compare
Stafford, KS 67578 92%177$53,750$82,600$21 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Bessemer, MI 49911 91%652$57,000$106,300$87 larger
Oberlin, KS 67749 91%47$54,000$90,100— larger
Saint Francis, KS 67756 91%115$54,868$129,600— Very close on everything we compare
Sharon Springs, KS 67758 91%139$58,500$109,700$78 newer homes
Franklin, NE 68939 91%52$54,083$90,000$110 Very close on everything we compare
Pocahontas, IA 50574 90%318$60,469$110,300$83 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Madison, MN 56256 90%376$65,521$124,200$119 larger
Bloomfield, NE 68718 90%197$60,250$139,200$65 pricier homes ($31K more) · 5 min longer commute
Rushville, NE 69360 90%214$52,402$116,000— Very close on everything we compare
Appleton, MN 56208 89%392$59,766$102,800$114 larger · 7 min longer commute
Osborne, KS 67473 89%88$64,531$88,000— younger residents
Plainville, KS 67663 89%81$61,576$85,200$53 larger
Stockton, KS 67669 89%68$62,633$115,900$64 younger residents
Audubon, IA 50025 88%278$52,438$118,100$97 larger
Corning, IA 50841 88%275$66,875$116,700$95 larger
Ida Grove, IA 51445 88%270$64,688$114,800$96 larger · younger residents
Hurley, WI 54534 88%645$53,468$123,600$121 larger
Tarkio, MO 64491 88%238$57,500$91,300$126 7 min longer commute

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.