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 Depue, IL 61322

Depue: median income $65,795, home value $58,900, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Russell, IA 50238 90%202$59,625$83,300$68 Very close on everything we compare
De Kalb Junction, NY 13630 88%743$63,333$92,700$82 pricier homes ($34K more)
Wymore, NE 68466 86%393$61,574$87,300$80 pricier homes ($28K more)
Jasper, MN 56144 85%400$58,375$95,000$166 pricier homes ($36K more)
Schaller, IA 51053 84%317$72,534$91,800$129 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Peabody, KS 66866 83%467$58,705$97,200$46 pricier homes ($38K more)
Mclean, TX 79057 83%741$70,865$91,300— pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Hollsopple, PA 15935 81%548$61,941$99,600$121 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Laurens, IA 50554 81%302$63,802$82,800$68 6 min shorter commute
Eldon, IA 52554 81%153$55,769$82,400— Very close on everything we compare
Hoyt Lakes, MN 55750 81%451$65,833$93,300$98 pricier homes ($34K more) · newer homes
Caldwell, KS 67022 80%533$60,000$89,700$191 pricier homes ($31K more)
Kanawha, IA 50447 79%254$76,019$86,800$116 pricier homes ($28K more) · newer homes
Madison, KS 66860 79%423$60,531$76,400$65 6 min shorter commute
Waynoka, OK 73860 79%606$62,500$93,400$54 pricier homes ($35K more) · newer homes
Ridgeville, IN 47380 78%235$57,000$99,900$65 pricier homes ($41K more) · newer homes
Fairgrove, MI 48733 78%330$60,500$109,700$72 pricier homes ($51K more) · newer homes
Nickerson, KS 67561 78%513$57,434$95,000— pricier homes ($36K more) · younger residents
Fairfax, OK 74637 78%514$52,829$67,500$66 older residents · newer homes
Anton, TX 79313 78%872$62,788$74,300$78 newer homes
Greensboro, PA 15338 77%503$67,981$83,700$122 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Lincoln, KS 67455 77%493$56,635$69,900$71 8 min shorter commute
Roby, TX 79543 77%850$64,978$71,500$109 younger residents · newer homes
Akron, MI 48701 76%334$62,969$112,200$108 pricier homes ($53K more) · newer homes
Clyde, KS 66938 76%441$55,284$80,000$84 younger residents · 8 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.