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 Alva, OK 73717

Alva: median income $51,165, home value $142,400, $62/sq ft, 12-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chadron, NE 69337 89%475$54,306$163,800— more apartments and townhomes
Chanute, KS 66720 77%187$56,911$93,700$58 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · older residents
Concordia, KS 66901 77%198$60,063$114,300$85 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Pratt, KS 67124 77%59$66,905$117,300$72 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Beloit, KS 67420 77%185$62,938$144,200— smaller · older residents
Sisseton, SD 57262 76%619$51,889$130,000$39 newer homes
Wolf Point, MT 59201 76%857$53,311$127,100— Very close on everything we compare
Colby, KS 67701 76%220$70,250$177,300— pricier homes ($35K more) · more homeowners
Decatur, IL 62522 75%565$50,669$113,600$75 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Stratford, TX 79084 75%187$54,808$134,800$77 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Iola, KS 66749 74%196$60,093$107,000$96 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Cleveland, MS 38732 73%495$44,705$160,700$87 larger · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Lamoni, IA 50140 73%367$57,443$121,900— smaller · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Wellington, KS 67152 73%78$52,275$119,200$93 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Martin, SD 57551 72%469$70,096$161,900— smaller
Marysville, KS 66508 72%237$55,636$135,400— smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Pittsburg, KS 66762 72%222$50,511$145,300$110 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Hoisington, KS 67544 72%116$57,568$104,000$74 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · older residents
Creston, IA 50801 71%374$58,015$124,900$106 older residents
Broken Bow, NE 68822 71%323$67,500$154,600— smaller · older residents
Ord, NE 68862 71%332$60,321$163,100— smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Fairfield, AL 35064 70%702$48,692$129,100$92 9 min longer commute · more walkable
Fayette, IA 52142 70%554$56,875$162,500$105 smaller · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Macomb, IL 61455 70%500$48,679$120,100$70 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Monmouth, IL 61462 70%517$64,113$102,900$92 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 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.