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 Oshkosh, NE 69154

Oshkosh: median income $41,348, home value $112,800, $184/sq ft, 10-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Smith Center, KS 66967 82%217$56,726$100,400— larger
Norton, KS 67654 77%168$54,418$101,200— larger
Westbrook, MN 56183 76%396$45,536$138,400$109 pricier homes ($26K more) · 7 min longer commute
Gregory, SD 57533 76%197$58,500$122,400$227 larger · newer homes
Marysville, KS 66508 76%318$55,636$135,400— larger
Boise City, OK 73933 76%323$49,904$77,000— cheaper homes ($36K less) · more renters
Napoleon, ND 58561 75%374$61,688$100,300— newer homes
Hamilton, TX 76531 74%712$49,100$126,300$111 larger
Oberlin, KS 67749 73%145$54,000$90,100— larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Saint Francis, KS 67756 73%121$54,868$129,600— larger · older residents
Dighton, KS 67839 73%226$54,028$145,200— pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Rawlings, MD 21557 72%1,235$34,936$123,300$148 12 min longer commute · newer homes
Harbor Beach, MI 48441 72%1,011$50,765$154,000$140 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Lake Andes, SD 57356 72%230$54,107$113,900$126 larger · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Stinnett, TX 79083 72%388$48,611$105,400$117 larger · 10 min longer commute · newer homes
Iraan, TX 79744 72%725$42,039$101,100— younger residents · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Welcome, MN 56181 71%425$55,750$114,100$178 younger residents · 11 min longer commute
Osborne, KS 67473 71%236$64,531$88,000— larger
Masury, OH 44438 70%1,129$40,877$82,400$144 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Cooperstown, ND 58425 70%466$59,773$122,500— older residents · more apartments and townhomes
East Millinocket, ME 04430 69%1,704$42,011$86,200$88 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 8 min longer commute
Charleston, WV 25387 69%1,116$43,063$91,400$122 larger · 7 min longer commute · more renters
Elkton, MI 48731 69%986$53,021$115,500$106 9 min longer commute
Scobey, MT 59263 69%531$53,875$190,600— pricier homes ($78K more) · older residents
Groveton, NH 03582 68%1,564$46,250$122,300$164 larger · older residents · 12 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.