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 Colfax, NC 27235

Colfax: median income $101,173, home value $304,000, $172/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oklahoma City, OK 73150 89%971$92,318$313,500$164 older homes
Daleville, VA 24083 88%91$109,207$391,500$187 pricier homes ($88K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Ashland, MO 65010 88%696$95,559$313,900$200 younger residents
Orrington, ME 04474 87%837$94,556$309,000$192 more homeowners
Harmony, PA 16037 87%328$93,077$348,200$205 pricier homes ($44K more) · more homeowners
Abingdon, VA 24211 87%116$85,747$306,600$176 larger
Maryville, IL 62062 87%575$98,672$257,600$148 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Topeka, KS 66615 87%887$107,656$290,700$146 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Sierra Vista, AZ 85650 86%1,756$91,654$327,000$193 larger · more homeowners
Scott Depot, WV 25560 85%193$103,160$270,900$165 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · younger residents
Solon, IA 52333 85%732$118,721$366,900$177 pricier homes ($63K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
Prairie Du Sac, WI 53578 85%717$105,610$347,000$226 pricier homes ($43K more) · younger residents
Springfield, MO 65810 85%739$95,160$305,600$178 larger
Piney Flats, TN 37686 84%132$84,264$352,200$211 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · younger residents
Stevens Point, WI 54482 84%768$94,500$288,900$173 larger · younger residents
Louisburg, KS 66053 84%823$89,096$326,200$176 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Blanco, TX 78606 84%1,141$94,817$437,600$230 pricier homes ($134K more) · 6 min longer commute
North Augusta, SC 29860 83%205$97,268$275,600$162 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · more homeowners
Holland, OH 43528 83%431$93,986$276,100$165 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · younger residents
Waterville, OH 43566 83%424$105,985$305,600$195 larger · younger residents
Selkirk, NY 12158 82%555$97,419$315,100$242 more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Imperial, PA 15126 82%301$99,693$225,400$188 cheaper homes ($79K less) · younger residents · older homes
Landisville, PA 17538 82%338$86,719$299,300$188 more homeowners · older homes
Oley, PA 19547 82%375$89,948$357,900$213 pricier homes ($54K more) · older homes
Mc Gaheysville, VA 22840 82%172$95,667$382,500$257 pricier homes ($79K more) · more homeowners

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.