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 Fairfax, OK 74637

Fairfax: median income $52,829, home value $67,500, $66/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spur, TX 79370 93%317$48,750$63,100$51 Very close on everything we compare
Wakefield, MI 49968 88%769$55,759$91,800$97 Very close on everything we compare
Oakland, IL 61943 88%518$54,196$109,000$71 pricier homes ($42K more)
Ridgeville, IN 47380 87%681$57,000$99,900$65 pricier homes ($32K more)
Blue Rapids, KS 66411 87%215$57,361$85,900— younger residents
Clarendon, PA 16313 86%1,003$53,947$97,200$76 pricier homes ($30K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Carrier Mills, IL 62917 86%451$50,119$73,400$73 larger · newer homes
Yates Center, KS 66783 86%106$48,068$91,400$60 5 min shorter commute
Sedan, KS 67361 86%49$53,917$64,400— younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Milford, IL 60953 85%562$59,135$106,700$74 pricier homes ($39K more) · younger residents
Grant City, MO 64456 85%299$48,611$92,000— younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Crawford, NE 69339 85%553$65,529$95,800— pricier homes ($28K more)
Tidioute, PA 16351 84%992$51,515$91,600$82 Very close on everything we compare
Winchester, IL 62694 84%400$58,460$102,200$59 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Fairfax, MO 64446 84%270$56,949$101,800— pricier homes ($34K more)
Shamrock, TX 79079 84%219$51,250$92,500$68 pricier homes ($25K more)
Jonesboro, IN 46938 83%656$45,884$98,800$74 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · younger residents
Dunkirk, IN 47336 83%674$50,633$97,800$84 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Russell, IA 50238 83%358$59,625$83,300$68 younger residents
Laurens, IA 50554 83%445$63,802$82,800$68 younger residents
Georgetown, IL 61846 83%545$60,871$85,700$68 larger · younger residents
Christopher, IL 62822 83%431$47,770$67,600$52 larger · younger residents
South Fork, PA 15956 82%1,002$52,448$87,700$62 larger · older homes
Irvona, PA 16656 82%1,019$48,071$101,200— pricier homes ($34K more) · 6 min longer commute
Farmersburg, IN 47850 82%535$54,050$104,400$83 pricier homes ($37K more) · newer 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.