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 De Soto, IA 50069

De Soto: median income $98,056, home value $232,100, $202/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Buskirk, NY 12028 94%1,055$96,891$247,700— Very close on everything we compare
Lizton, IN 46149 94%408$88,750$247,800$179 larger
Maple Hill, KS 66507 94%201$96,786$218,400$172 Very close on everything we compare
Westphalia, MI 48894 90%482$101,923$275,900$178 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Chaseburg, WI 54621 90%212$94,286$280,000$202 pricier homes ($48K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Clarksville, MI 48815 89%458$85,962$244,200$213 larger
Humboldt, SD 57035 89%212$99,565$326,500— pricier homes ($94K more)
Kingston, IL 60145 89%274$108,477$268,300$191 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Stewartsville, MO 64490 89%122$88,750$181,800$189 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · older residents
Westphalia, MO 65085 89%238$103,563$290,600$244 pricier homes ($59K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Arlington, WI 53911 88%269$100,625$296,100$222 pricier homes ($64K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Freeport, MN 56331 88%289$96,042$271,800$169 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Sturgeon, MO 65284 88%184$97,434$216,500$210 larger · older residents
Abbott, TX 76621 88%686$81,932$241,300$201 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Metamora, OH 43540 87%522$119,583$259,300$167 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Strum, WI 54770 87%249$83,636$226,500$189 larger · older residents
Fisher, IL 61843 87%308$97,943$192,200$155 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · older residents
Marine, IL 62061 87%294$87,938$185,600$193 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Chilhowee, MO 64733 87%201$77,083$218,100$259 Very close on everything we compare
Henley, MO 65040 87%237$89,167$225,800$190 Very close on everything we compare
Benton, KS 67017 87%305$88,750$259,400$150 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Palmyra, NE 68418 87%136$86,065$203,400$225 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Check, VA 24072 86%799$109,500$243,400$170 newer homes
Raymond, OH 43067 86%557$95,903$303,100$194 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · newer homes
Windsor, OH 44099 86%675$92,895$210,000$164 larger · younger residents · 5 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.