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 Colwich, KS 67030

Colwich: median income $100,192, home value $284,800, $138/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Juniata, NE 68955 94%201$90,850$266,400$151 Very close on everything we compare
Teutopolis, IL 62467 93%499$96,406$232,800$128 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Heyworth, IL 61745 92%492$107,835$228,400$138 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Fort Loramie, OH 45845 91%727$95,078$306,300— Very close on everything we compare
Denver, IA 50622 91%435$95,089$254,100$144 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older homes
Eleva, WI 54738 91%567$95,179$290,400$191 Very close on everything we compare
La Fayette, NY 13084 90%1,179$91,389$227,200$157 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Omaha, NE 68157 90%249$98,015$239,000$153 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Elgin, MN 55932 89%518$100,078$316,500$120 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Congerville, IL 61729 89%488$101,172$259,100— cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Saint Joseph, IL 61873 89%535$117,578$265,400$156 larger
Athens, IL 62613 89%450$86,675$200,900$141 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Yutan, NE 68073 89%246$112,460$263,400$148 6 min longer commute
Holland Patent, NY 13354 88%1,226$101,733$241,900$158 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older homes
Brownstown, PA 17508 88%1,154$104,597$347,800$131 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller
Belle Haven, VA 23306 88%1,183$108,438$280,600$103 smaller
Ellettsville, IN 47429 88%599$92,378$246,800$179 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Epworth, IA 52045 88%475$91,667$263,500$141 Very close on everything we compare
Fall Creek, WI 54742 88%582$102,083$282,100$189 Very close on everything we compare
Courtland, MN 56021 88%479$96,563$276,800$140 smaller
New London, MN 56273 88%536$90,122$320,100$170 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · older residents
Barnesville, MN 56514 88%616$100,845$264,800$145 6 min longer commute
Dell Rapids, SD 57022 88%420$100,656$325,200$192 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Elk Point, SD 57025 88%346$94,839$237,900$179 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Waverly, NE 68462 88%224$119,712$322,600$170 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger

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.