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 Blackwell, OK 74631

Blackwell: median income $53,964, home value $86,500, $62/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mingo Junction, OH 43938 94%931$55,446$101,300$70 Very close on everything we compare
Oelwein, IA 50662 92%496$48,646$107,700$68 Very close on everything we compare
Belle, WV 25015 91%870$56,681$98,100$63 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Kewanee, IL 61443 91%500$52,615$79,600$69 larger · older residents
Oswego, KS 67356 91%122$52,882$91,200$75 smaller
Flora, IL 62839 90%497$53,685$84,300$87 Very close on everything we compare
Westville, IL 61883 89%568$56,169$101,400$93 smaller
Pana, IL 62557 89%479$51,389$88,900$91 Very close on everything we compare
Vandalia, MO 63382 89%359$60,733$96,300$89 smaller
Monessen, PA 15062 88%968$52,889$95,900$65 older residents
Northern Cambria, PA 15714 88%1,030$52,500$102,500$92 Very close on everything we compare
Oil City, PA 16301 88%994$57,596$89,800$66 larger · older residents
Birmingham, AL 35224 88%627$42,639$80,000$76 Very close on everything we compare
Nokomis, IL 62075 88%468$65,954$93,400$73 smaller
Mount Carmel, IL 62863 88%531$55,916$105,500$72 newer homes
West Frankfort, IL 62896 88%465$55,458$88,900$89 larger
Lyons, KS 67554 88%117$64,125$107,900$60 smaller
Floydada, TX 79235 88%300$52,935$95,800$59 smaller
Colorado City, TX 79512 88%366$60,353$88,800$41 Very close on everything we compare
New Castle, PA 16102 87%951$56,053$104,900$84 older residents
Fort Madison, IA 52627 87%416$56,401$116,500$85 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Carmi, IL 62821 87%508$55,367$116,300$54 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents
Hoisington, KS 67544 87%141$57,568$104,000$74 smaller
Larned, KS 67550 87%138$65,400$97,900$73 Very close on everything we compare
Birmingham, AL 35228 86%630$50,815$93,700$61 larger · more renters · more walkable

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.