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.

Reset

Towns most like Colby, WI 54421

Colby: median income $60,820, home value $194,500, $114/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gaylord, MN 55334 94%192$66,149$192,800$144 Very close on everything we compare
Warren, MN 56762 94%384$62,933$160,100$102 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Wadena, MN 56482 93%255$64,439$169,800$133 larger
Mahnomen, MN 56557 93%315$57,731$143,800$82 cheaper homes ($51K less)
George West, TX 78022 93%1,224$55,895$171,100$127 Very close on everything we compare
Holbrook, AZ 86025 93%1,253$56,919$163,800$147 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Ashley, IN 46705 92%353$67,266$159,700$131 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Steeleville, IL 62288 92%478$67,159$177,500$105 older residents
Burlington, KS 66839 92%539$63,077$175,500$119 older residents
Belleville, PA 17004 91%703$65,068$206,900$162 larger
Hartford, AL 36344 91%987$60,377$173,500$140 larger · 6 min longer commute
Valentine, NE 69201 91%533$62,101$161,300$106 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Hennessey, OK 73742 91%727$70,538$171,800$92 Very close on everything we compare
Yoakum, TX 77995 91%1,142$54,298$188,600$112 larger
Farwell, TX 79325 91%989$71,771$163,400— cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Adams, NY 13605 90%708$70,045$191,100$136 larger
Lindale, GA 30147 90%790$61,351$148,600$130 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 6 min longer commute
Bangor, MI 49013 90%275$55,349$154,400$137 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Sheldon, IA 51201 90%299$68,799$197,800$118 larger
New York Mills, MN 56567 90%270$72,500$215,300$132 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Sterling, IL 62353 90%341$66,000$152,100$128 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Canton, MO 63435 90%335$62,102$151,800$148 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Stanberry, MO 64489 90%388$54,519$167,900$85 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Reserve, LA 70084 90%1,026$62,047$155,400$125 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · older residents
Davis, OK 73030 90%805$59,612$157,600$96 cheaper homes ($37K 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.