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, WI 54624

De Soto: median income $81,518, home value $186,000, $258/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ivanhoe, NC 28447 93%922$77,134$241,300— pricier homes ($55K more)
Exeter, ME 04435 92%1,092$84,408$166,700$202 Very close on everything we compare
Dixmont, ME 04932 92%1,093$75,952$190,700$277 Very close on everything we compare
Dry Branch, GA 31020 90%852$69,720$150,600— cheaper homes ($35K less)
Dresden, ME 04342 89%1,065$74,844$240,100$259 pricier homes ($54K more)
Crouse, NC 28033 89%764$78,458$224,000$234 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Alpine, AL 35014 89%745$70,688$171,800$188 larger
Saint Albans, ME 04971 88%1,078$65,600$194,000$244 more single-family homes
Stockton Springs, ME 04981 88%1,106$77,560$239,000$223 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Boydton, VA 23917 88%822$73,965$201,600$187 larger
Burlington, WV 26710 88%694$78,516$212,800$197 pricier homes ($27K more) · younger residents
Woodleaf, NC 27054 88%771$92,560$212,300$182 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents
Catawba, SC 29704 88%808$74,303$243,800$240 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · younger residents
Depauw, IN 47115 88%438$88,229$194,500$193 larger · younger residents
Burlington, MI 49029 88%320$75,188$207,200$203 Very close on everything we compare
Larue, TX 75770 88%819$83,542$239,200$179 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Henry, VA 24102 87%745$76,250$173,000$192 Very close on everything we compare
Frankfort, ME 04438 86%1,102$80,000$211,300— pricier homes ($25K more) · younger residents
Hudson, ME 04449 86%1,103$67,692$154,900$250 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents
Alburgh, VT 05440 86%904$76,429$268,300$199 pricier homes ($82K more)
Lowgap, NC 27024 86%729$62,813$188,600$191 larger
Kittrell, NC 27544 86%839$66,304$173,900$212 larger
Brooker, FL 32622 86%1,056$72,639$233,100$162 pricier homes ($47K more)
Goodspring, TN 38460 86%616$101,914$207,700$224 younger residents
Westmoreland, KS 66549 86%393$79,318$202,300$237 younger residents · 5 min shorter 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.