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, IL 62924

De Soto: median income $70,357, home value $103,000, $65/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lexa, AR 72355 88%238$55,307$97,600— smaller
Vici, OK 73859 87%566$70,000$135,800$60 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Charleston, WV 25306 86%420$71,654$109,800— larger · older residents
Karnes City, TX 78118 84%794$60,711$103,700— more homeowners
Smackover, AR 71762 83%367$50,577$106,400$67 more homeowners
Dilley, TX 78017 83%853$59,808$103,100— larger
Beverly, WV 26253 82%512$65,843$124,400$89 older residents · more homeowners
Alto, TX 75925 82%542$60,811$105,200$69 9 min longer commute
Cotulla, TX 78014 82%868$66,250$100,000$91 larger · more homeowners
Camilla, GA 31730 81%537$58,500$106,300$65 larger · 8 min longer commute
Ocilla, GA 31774 81%547$50,833$99,500$84 larger
Wibaux, MT 59353 81%989$68,250$98,800$88 smaller · more homeowners
New Madrid, MO 63869 81%85$57,959$132,100$108 pricier homes ($29K more)
Van Horn, TX 79855 81%1,003$58,910$79,300— Very close on everything we compare
Glenville, WV 26351 80%461$55,742$106,500$53 7 min longer commute
Mahnomen, MN 56557 80%739$57,731$143,800$82 pricier homes ($41K more)
Hettinger, ND 58639 80%898$63,636$116,500$52 smaller · older homes
Albany, MO 64402 80%322$54,444$111,900— more homeowners
Bearden, AR 71720 80%340$61,250$102,400$61 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Prescott, AR 71857 80%362$53,125$86,300$52 larger
Mc Crory, AR 72101 80%208$50,921$105,100— Very close on everything we compare
Moira, NY 12957 79%901$54,572$87,600$77 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Monroe City, MO 63456 79%185$64,160$161,200$116 pricier homes ($58K more)
Huntsville, MO 65259 79%212$60,865$141,600$92 pricier homes ($39K more) · more homeowners
Leachville, AR 72438 79%141$56,688$123,500$108 Very close on everything we compare

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.