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 Colesburg, IA 52035

Colesburg: median income $62,109, home value $138,500, $65/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hamler, OH 43524 96%381$60,882$165,800$71 pricier homes ($27K more)
Marianna, PA 15345 90%602$59,375$156,000$57 Very close on everything we compare
Roseville, IL 61473 90%135$60,833$108,100$69 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Oxford, KS 67119 88%488$61,641$121,700$68 Very close on everything we compare
Summerville, PA 15864 87%627$65,859$141,400$109 Very close on everything we compare
Risingsun, OH 43457 87%410$54,583$153,800— 6 min shorter commute
Jewett, OH 43986 87%550$54,375$150,000$99 Very close on everything we compare
Fairfax, MN 55332 87%220$62,361$144,300$92 7 min shorter commute
Chadwick, IL 61014 87%80$69,329$103,800$70 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Chappell, NE 69129 87%588$67,105$107,000— cheaper homes ($32K less) · older residents
Akron, MI 48701 86%392$62,969$112,200$108 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Gibbon, MN 55335 86%214$62,206$149,300$98 7 min shorter commute
Adena, OH 43901 85%560$63,603$107,600$114 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Warren, IL 61087 85%62$77,321$108,900$83 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Potomac, IL 61865 85%237$66,786$118,500$43 newer homes
Nebo, IL 62355 85%223$65,750$108,700— cheaper homes ($30K less) · newer homes
Mclean, TX 79057 85%718$70,865$91,300— cheaper homes ($47K less)
Perrysburg, NY 14129 84%620$68,542$158,100$57 newer homes
Hyndman, PA 15545 84%676$56,757$129,600$72 larger · newer homes
Emlenton, PA 16373 84%596$63,047$135,600$56 larger · newer homes
Patton, PA 16668 84%663$58,750$114,700$85 larger
Lynn, IN 47355 84%371$73,133$117,000$84 larger · newer homes
Ridgeville, IN 47380 84%358$57,000$99,900$65 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Toluca, IL 61369 84%155$68,708$120,400$106 Very close on everything we compare
Toulon, IL 61483 84%127$63,558$109,100$110 cheaper homes ($29K less)

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.