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 Columbia, MD 21045

Columbia: median income $118,563, home value $453,700, $255/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 95%131$125,514$428,000$294 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Phoenixville, PA 19460 91%94$124,050$455,900$251 less walkable
Voorhees, NJ 08043 89%109$105,473$429,700$242 Very close on everything we compare
Decatur, GA 30033 89%556$111,616$455,300$265 Very close on everything we compare
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 88%617$99,743$390,000$261 cheaper homes ($64K less) · less walkable
Lansdale, PA 19446 87%108$106,310$441,100$257 larger · less walkable
Cary, NC 27511 86%261$107,860$456,000$286 more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30316 86%563$102,891$443,400$299 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Prospect, IL 60056 86%614$101,922$397,200$272 cheaper homes ($57K less)
La Grange, IL 60525 86%606$116,918$438,000$296 Very close on everything we compare
Alexandria, VA 22309 85%37$107,376$567,200$327 pricier homes ($114K more)
Westminster, CO 80031 85%1,497$107,422$535,300$249 pricier homes ($82K more) · more single-family homes
Somerville, NJ 08876 84%149$122,884$485,100$359 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · less walkable
Langhorne, PA 19047 84%122$109,530$467,000$285 less walkable
Plano, TX 75075 84%1,187$98,365$428,000$219 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more single-family homes
Littleton, CO 80120 84%1,498$94,296$628,300$289 pricier homes ($175K more)
Norristown, PA 19403 83%101$104,071$375,100$238 cheaper homes ($79K less) · older residents · less walkable
Springfield, VA 22150 83%35$123,114$635,900$335 pricier homes ($182K more)
Roswell, GA 30076 83%548$118,170$489,700$231 pricier homes ($36K more) · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30345 83%555$112,054$573,800$242 pricier homes ($120K more) · smaller · more renters
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 83%669$117,724$582,400$386 pricier homes ($129K more) · older residents
Maitland, FL 32751 83%776$95,387$453,700$291 smaller · less walkable
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33323 83%924$113,481$482,200$334 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · newer homes
Lombard, IL 60148 83%615$100,616$344,100$252 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Lisle, IL 60532 83%617$102,085$386,300$253 cheaper homes ($67K less) · less walkable

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.