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 Odessa, WA 99159

Odessa: median income $64,688, home value $241,000, $106/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eads, CO 81036 85%1,019$59,868$173,300— cheaper homes ($68K less) · younger residents
Lusk, WY 82225 82%762$68,422$229,200$109 more renters
Hendricks, MN 56136 81%1,085$68,281$225,600$133 more homeowners · newer homes
Dunlap, IA 51529 80%1,191$61,599$156,800$115 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 8 min longer commute
Condon, OR 97823 80%162$57,727$150,500$72 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Sac City, IA 50583 79%1,204$62,981$144,700$74 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger · younger residents
Scobey, MT 59263 79%621$53,875$190,600— cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Plentywood, MT 59254 78%659$68,750$164,400$109 cheaper homes ($77K less) · younger residents
John Day, OR 97845 77%202$68,036$248,700$176 larger · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Mc Gregor, IA 52157 76%1,365$52,625$193,500$130 cheaper homes ($48K less) · newer homes
Clark, SD 57225 76%1,016$66,875$155,100$77 cheaper homes ($86K less) · younger residents
Enderlin, ND 58027 76%992$75,774$159,500$129 cheaper homes ($82K less) · younger residents
New England, ND 58647 76%749$84,583$227,300$133 younger residents
Harborcreek, PA 16421 75%1,914$64,091$224,200$184 larger · younger residents
Paullina, IA 51046 75%1,155$84,125$160,300$96 cheaper homes ($81K less) · younger residents
Madison, MN 56256 75%1,086$65,521$124,200$119 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger · younger residents
Ortonville, MN 56278 75%1,066$63,203$202,800$144 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · younger residents
Hallock, MN 56728 75%1,006$79,444$152,100$96 cheaper homes ($89K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Wessington Springs, SD 57382 75%989$79,375$164,900$146 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Crosby, ND 58730 75%718$83,583$157,600$75 cheaper homes ($83K less) · newer homes
Kenmare, ND 58746 75%772$70,263$149,700$87 cheaper homes ($91K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Concordia, MO 64020 75%1,383$59,269$201,500$138 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · younger residents
Hot Springs, VA 24445 74%2,052$51,500$163,700$120 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · newer homes
Sanborn, IA 51248 74%1,152$64,375$172,800$108 cheaper homes ($68K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Guttenberg, IA 52052 74%1,375$61,528$197,400$120 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute

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.