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 Colchester, CT 06415

Colchester: median income $123,256, home value $366,300, $265/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belchertown, MA 01007 94%49$108,125$371,400$258 Very close on everything we compare
Goffstown, NH 03045 94%108$119,205$384,600$294 Very close on everything we compare
Altamont, NY 12009 93%116$120,101$342,900$247 smaller
Ballston Lake, NY 12019 93%121$112,420$400,400$271 pricier homes ($34K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Valencia, PA 16059 92%399$110,828$408,500$243 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Pottstown, PA 19465 92%198$107,825$404,500$233 pricier homes ($38K more)
Avon Lake, OH 44012 92%500$115,567$368,300$213 larger
Pepperell, MA 01463 91%85$123,911$482,100$298 pricier homes ($116K more)
Windham, ME 04062 91%183$107,934$388,900$317 Very close on everything we compare
West Grove, PA 19390 91%219$128,858$417,900$222 pricier homes ($52K more)
Brighton, MI 48116 91%590$106,763$385,900$216 larger
Lake Orion, MI 48362 91%566$115,230$346,900$223 Very close on everything we compare
Waukesha, WI 53189 91%820$117,008$406,200$243 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Charlton, MA 01507 90%44$117,587$427,500$272 pricier homes ($61K more)
Gorham, ME 04038 90%175$112,312$460,900$301 pricier homes ($95K more)
Red Hook, NY 12571 90%84$118,967$431,200$328 pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller
Mc Donald, PA 15057 90%421$120,821$355,400$192 Very close on everything we compare
Perkasie, PA 18944 90%173$130,997$426,100$248 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Douglassville, PA 19518 90%199$114,181$354,700$210 Very close on everything we compare
Stevensville, MD 21666 90%278$123,645$494,300$278 pricier homes ($128K more)
Johnstown, OH 43031 90%550$110,930$389,900$224 Very close on everything we compare
Milford, MI 48381 90%581$105,213$405,200$224 pricier homes ($39K more)
Sussex, WI 53089 90%817$120,875$418,900$248 pricier homes ($53K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Mound, MN 55364 90%1,094$108,725$459,400$260 pricier homes ($93K more)
Londonderry, NH 03053 89%103$134,038$507,600$308 pricier homes ($141K more) · larger

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.