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 Witt, IA 52742

De Witt: median income $97,946, home value $261,000, $165/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Charles, MN 55972 96%166$98,878$287,800$166 pricier homes ($27K more)
Bonner Springs, KS 66012 96%300$97,873$276,500$191 Very close on everything we compare
Schuylerville, NY 12871 95%866$96,024$263,600$180 smaller
Hartville, OH 44632 95%480$91,061$267,500$199 Very close on everything we compare
Ottawa, OH 45875 95%340$93,144$229,800$160 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Oostburg, WI 53070 95%186$91,557$282,000$194 Very close on everything we compare
Houston, PA 15342 94%548$92,402$247,300$165 Very close on everything we compare
Portland, MI 48875 94%295$94,216$227,500$178 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Seymour, WI 54165 94%216$87,048$247,000$189 Very close on everything we compare
Chatfield, MN 55923 94%162$96,328$293,000$147 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Paynesville, MN 56362 94%324$86,212$258,900$188 Very close on everything we compare
Breese, IL 62230 94%228$91,350$229,300$153 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Blair, NE 68008 94%292$89,583$270,800$157 larger
New Wilmington, PA 16142 93%530$84,205$226,300$153 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Manchester, PA 17345 93%729$92,821$222,500$157 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Mount Wolf, PA 17347 93%731$98,261$254,300$167 Very close on everything we compare
Germantown, OH 45327 93%356$94,741$218,900$181 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Geneseo, IL 61254 93%31$92,297$222,700$141 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Trenton, IL 62293 93%226$98,155$250,600$116 smaller
Biglerville, PA 17307 92%703$88,571$258,200$171 Very close on everything we compare
Dallas, PA 18612 92%751$93,750$259,300$178 larger
Mohnton, PA 19540 92%764$100,000$319,600$216 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Mason, MI 48854 92%315$94,716$248,600$164 larger
Evansville, WI 53536 92%91$87,667$304,900$209 pricier homes ($44K more)
Sauk City, WI 53583 92%107$97,286$344,000$227 pricier homes ($83K more)

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.