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 Bartlesville, OK 74003

Bartlesville: median income $47,168, home value $113,500, $103/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Steubenville, OH 43952 94%865$47,624$124,300$131 Very close on everything we compare
Mobile, AL 36605 93%620$43,538$99,200$99 larger
Arkansas City, KS 67005 93%62$54,516$95,400$87 Very close on everything we compare
Wellington, KS 67152 93%86$52,275$119,200$93 smaller
Indianola, MS 38751 92%378$44,699$116,100$91 newer homes
Ashland, KY 41101 92%740$53,889$121,600$101 Very close on everything we compare
Akron, OH 44305 92%835$52,768$99,700$127 larger
Akron, OH 44320 92%830$41,241$104,700$109 Very close on everything we compare
Waterloo, IA 50703 92%444$50,060$95,900$84 Very close on everything we compare
Centerville, IA 52544 92%323$50,572$116,900$119 smaller · older residents
Decatur, IL 62522 92%436$50,669$113,600$75 Very close on everything we compare
Laurel, MS 39440 91%524$46,947$125,400$111 newer homes
Lima, OH 45801 91%698$51,731$123,900$132 larger
Rockford, IL 61101 91%530$46,163$90,600$92 Very close on everything we compare
Rockford, IL 61102 91%528$46,599$98,900$105 Very close on everything we compare
Abilene, TX 79603 91%365$53,513$120,900$134 larger
Akron, OH 44314 90%830$47,468$88,400$99 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Canton, OH 44710 90%832$47,305$104,600$110 smaller · older homes
Springfield, OH 45506 90%694$42,104$107,300$102 older residents
Gary, IN 46404 90%570$42,256$95,200$92 5 min longer commute
Mattoon, IL 61938 90%455$57,503$111,700$107 older residents
Wichita Falls, TX 76309 90%244$54,159$143,400$117 pricier homes ($30K more)
Plainview, TX 79072 90%367$47,255$114,000$96 larger · newer homes
Sweetwater, TX 79556 90%387$49,393$94,900$111 Very close on everything we compare
Mobile, AL 36611 89%614$46,559$117,500$88 smaller

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.