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 New Columbia, PA 17856

New Columbia: median income $91,661, home value $197,600, $178/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kirkville, NY 13082 93%149$82,964$185,700$193 Very close on everything we compare
Shiner, TX 77984 93%1,392$92,656$213,100$178 larger
Verona, NY 13478 92%160$83,986$185,800$196 older homes
Marathon, WI 54448 92%706$94,432$246,900$158 pricier homes ($49K more)
Neoga, IL 62447 92%621$87,292$154,400$151 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Watauga, TN 37694 91%434$81,250$203,300$190 smaller
Laotto, IN 46763 91%431$97,054$270,800$155 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller
Bellevue, IA 52031 90%703$86,674$244,600$152 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Cleveland, WI 53015 90%587$88,810$222,200$164 younger residents
Port Byron, IL 61275 90%697$108,438$245,700$196 pricier homes ($48K more)
Doniphan, NE 68832 90%1,119$96,641$250,000$154 pricier homes ($52K more)
Williamstown, VT 05679 89%307$94,082$238,900$149 pricier homes ($41K more) · 5 min longer commute
Chazy, NY 12921 89%317$101,302$215,100$132 Very close on everything we compare
Tobaccoville, NC 27050 89%383$88,750$188,700$195 7 min longer commute
Doylestown, OH 44230 89%249$79,526$229,000$189 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Fort Jennings, OH 45844 89%382$88,792$231,300$123 pricier homes ($34K more)
Pleasant Lake, IN 46779 89%423$86,000$171,000$189 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Amboy, IN 46911 89%474$95,122$209,300$135 smaller
Baroda, MI 49101 89%500$75,048$252,100$164 pricier homes ($55K more)
Kiel, WI 53042 89%599$86,389$239,400$205 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Oakfield, WI 53065 89%622$99,583$261,800$174 pricier homes ($64K more)
Cherry Valley, IL 61016 89%627$84,883$231,200$175 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Cairo, MO 65239 89%825$83,578$195,800$148 smaller · younger residents
Wathena, KS 66090 89%951$87,025$161,100$152 cheaper homes ($37K less) · more renters
Silver Lake, KS 66539 89%1,009$87,554$230,600$138 pricier homes ($33K more)

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.