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 Colgate, WI 53017

Colgate: median income $153,917, home value $521,700, $221/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mickleton, NJ 08056 93%712$171,389$473,400$223 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Goshen, KY 40026 93%359$134,254$432,100$200 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Lincoln University, PA 19352 92%681$165,365$473,200$225 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Bucyrus, KS 66013 92%457$164,320$724,500$234 pricier homes ($203K more) · smaller
Oak Ridge, NC 27310 90%654$165,898$498,900$217 larger · older residents
Ostrander, OH 43061 90%329$157,568$400,300$229 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Alto, MI 49302 90%145$134,722$400,700$216 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger
Granville, OH 43023 89%366$142,852$473,100$220 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Oakland, MI 48363 89%258$179,375$618,200$226 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($97K more)
Clancy, MT 59634 89%1,180$129,891$553,900$264 pricier homes ($32K more)
Auburn, NH 03032 88%851$153,253$600,300$294 pricier homes ($79K more) · older residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80927 88%903$163,803$587,100$210 pricier homes ($65K more) · 6 min longer commute
Burlington, CT 06013 87%785$165,120$418,700$252 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger
White Marsh, MD 21162 87%667$157,813$451,600$216 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Galena, OH 43021 87%346$167,941$564,700$220 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · newer homes
Hanover, MN 55341 87%301$157,071$450,300$195 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Oronoco, MN 55960 87%222$130,227$481,200$214 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Shawnee, KS 66218 87%443$168,878$436,600$207 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · newer homes
Bow, NH 03304 86%840$172,857$506,500$279 larger
Venetia, PA 15367 86%467$135,542$544,100$216 larger · 6 min longer commute
Landenberg, PA 19350 86%686$144,375$533,000$212 larger · older residents
Dunkirk, MD 20754 86%678$167,371$614,200$220 pricier homes ($93K more) · 8 min longer commute
Earlysville, VA 22936 86%618$142,338$589,400$251 pricier homes ($68K more) · older residents
Summerfield, NC 27358 86%655$138,717$444,400$205 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · older residents
Brookline, NH 03033 85%837$171,046$544,400$245 9 min longer commute

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.