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 Okarche, OK 73762

Okarche: median income $93,194, home value $261,700, $117/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elgin, MN 55932 95%652$100,078$316,500$120 pricier homes ($55K more)
Trenton, IL 62293 95%497$98,155$250,600$116 larger
Wade, NC 28395 92%1,080$84,375$263,000$166 Very close on everything we compare
Millbury, OH 43447 92%877$89,643$218,600$167 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Walker, IA 52352 92%559$92,321$231,300$131 cheaper homes ($30K less)
West Branch, IA 52358 92%542$91,686$240,300$152 larger
Rushford, MN 55971 92%647$88,750$231,700$142 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Benton, KS 67017 92%149$88,750$259,400$150 Very close on everything we compare
Cheney, KS 67025 92%131$86,840$205,100$127 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Springville, PA 18844 91%1,253$92,750$246,300— smaller · older residents
Lisbon, IA 52253 91%553$104,821$238,400$167 Very close on everything we compare
Chatfield, MN 55923 91%637$96,328$293,000$147 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Lewiston, MN 55952 91%652$91,389$228,200$139 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Oskaloosa, KS 66066 91%279$79,990$225,700$107 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Auburn, KS 66402 91%248$88,427$260,900$154 Very close on everything we compare
Chapman, KS 67431 91%228$82,500$199,500$117 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Chazy, NY 12921 90%1,428$101,302$215,100$132 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Wellsville, PA 17365 90%1,179$91,742$261,800$155 Very close on everything we compare
Alexandria, AL 36250 90%696$83,406$211,600$140 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Wadesville, IN 47638 90%584$93,958$282,700$145 larger
Boyne Falls, MI 49713 90%945$82,563$244,000$153 Very close on everything we compare
Lone Tree, IA 52755 90%529$102,434$242,700$127 older homes
Bangor, WI 54614 90%671$85,588$250,300$171 Very close on everything we compare
Eyota, MN 55934 90%645$84,952$327,700$163 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger
Lake Crystal, MN 56055 90%611$90,987$226,100$120 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · older homes

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.