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 Helena, OK 73741

Helena: median income $62,083, home value $110,800, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hale Center, TX 79041 94%265$61,832$101,000$79 larger
La Fontaine, IN 46940 92%736$64,089$128,100$127 Very close on everything we compare
Clarendon, PA 16313 91%1,082$53,947$97,200$76 Very close on everything we compare
Palestine, IL 62451 91%606$63,665$89,600$30 Very close on everything we compare
Tamaroa, IL 62888 91%509$66,136$112,500$74 Very close on everything we compare
La Grange, MO 63448 91%439$61,417$117,800$137 Very close on everything we compare
Penfield, PA 15849 90%1,105$60,096$108,200$182 6 min longer commute
Woodland, PA 16881 90%1,116$66,458$113,300$124 Very close on everything we compare
Morning Sun, IA 52640 90%491$67,813$125,800$155 Very close on everything we compare
Wyanet, IL 61379 90%574$63,750$103,200$134 more single-family homes
Garrett, PA 15542 89%1,066$58,393$105,800$117 smaller
Corydon, IA 50060 89%396$63,438$117,300$106 Very close on everything we compare
Elgin, IA 52141 89%566$64,647$115,500$99 Very close on everything we compare
Bowler, WI 54416 89%756$60,859$128,200$728 newer homes
Atkinson, IL 61235 89%556$61,932$132,800$67 Very close on everything we compare
Enfield, IL 62835 89%557$49,628$103,600$35 Very close on everything we compare
Elkhart, KS 67950 89%203$65,625$103,200$25 6 min shorter commute
Stoystown, PA 15563 88%1,073$62,411$139,600$128 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Weedville, PA 15868 88%1,110$70,395$112,200— 5 min longer commute
Pleasantville, PA 16341 88%1,060$61,818$121,800$148 older residents
Sheffield, PA 16347 88%1,088$58,125$79,100$39 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Springfield, SD 57062 88%437$62,321$134,900$110 younger residents
Bismarck, IL 61814 88%631$59,408$111,200$129 smaller · less walkable
Thomasboro, IL 61878 88%603$66,250$118,700$107 smaller
Oblong, IL 62449 88%592$59,555$98,800— 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.