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 Columbia, PA 17512

Columbia: median income $66,684, home value $245,200, $169/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Torrington, CT 06790 93%214$70,912$215,600$191 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Claremont, NH 03743 92%314$59,625$206,600$190 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Auburn, ME 04210 92%425$66,647$282,000$208 pricier homes ($37K more)
Meriden, CT 06450 91%219$71,250$242,600$211 larger
Putnam, CT 06260 90%272$70,502$269,500$221 smaller
Norwich, CT 06360 90%252$65,539$245,700$203 larger
Meriden, CT 06451 90%218$71,255$239,800$217 Very close on everything we compare
Cudahy, WI 53110 90%622$66,719$216,500$203 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more walkable
Winsted, CT 06098 89%221$66,269$247,900$216 smaller · older residents
Chicopee, MA 01020 88%251$66,009$280,900$244 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Ellenville, NY 12428 88%159$63,145$238,400$199 smaller
Springfield, VT 05156 87%306$66,679$204,300$162 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819 87%380$62,411$197,500$171 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Waterbury, CT 06708 87%207$67,364$218,500$202 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · younger residents
Essex, MD 21221 87%51$67,340$271,500$187 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Gardner, MA 01440 86%292$67,440$303,500$232 pricier homes ($58K more) · 7 min longer commute
Waterville, ME 04901 86%469$57,403$204,700$181 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Bellmawr, NJ 08031 86%75$76,654$239,400$235 smaller
Auburn, NY 13021 86%200$60,712$180,700$144 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Batavia, NY 14020 86%223$62,655$160,800$147 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Depew, NY 14043 86%229$74,112$212,100$204 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more single-family homes
Cleveland, OH 44130 86%293$69,655$195,500$188 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Warren, MI 48093 86%379$68,218$212,100$130 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Paulsboro, NJ 08066 85%68$65,070$200,200$207 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · younger residents
Amsterdam, NY 12010 85%233$63,696$180,200$134 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · less walkable

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.