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 Columbia, MD 21046

Columbia: median income $127,813, home value $479,500, $252/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 90%134$125,514$428,000$294 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
South Burlington, VT 05403 88%411$105,616$442,400$281 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Decatur, GA 30033 88%554$111,616$455,300$265 larger
Exton, PA 19341 87%88$121,680$509,300$249 pricier homes ($30K more) · more renters
Tampa, FL 33609 87%841$115,844$605,600$361 pricier homes ($126K more)
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 86%101$116,847$429,300$278 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · more renters
Phoenixville, PA 19460 86%97$124,050$455,900$251 larger
Hopkins, MN 55305 86%937$104,914$451,800$234 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Naperville, IL 60563 85%621$109,783$435,600$271 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30328 84%553$112,111$561,900$236 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30345 84%552$112,054$573,800$242 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger
Vernon Hills, IL 60061 84%619$124,468$416,700$241 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · less walkable
Dallas, TX 75244 84%1,193$120,286$617,800$322 pricier homes ($138K more) · more renters
Reston, VA 20191 83%31$151,185$641,800$350 pricier homes ($162K more) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28210 83%356$100,824$531,700$315 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30338 83%548$135,148$611,300$249 pricier homes ($132K more) · larger
Lisle, IL 60532 83%617$102,085$386,300$253 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75248 83%1,190$100,414$576,100$254 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($97K more) · larger
Fairfax, VA 22033 82%35$143,454$648,800$355 pricier homes ($169K more) · larger
Alpharetta, GA 30009 82%542$126,510$640,500$317 pricier homes ($161K more) · older residents · newer homes
Roswell, GA 30076 82%545$118,170$489,700$231 larger · more single-family homes · less walkable
Maitland, FL 32751 82%773$95,387$453,700$291 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($26K less)
Middleton, WI 53562 82%711$101,381$532,200$270 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Madison, WI 53717 82%711$98,180$415,100$240 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($64K less)
Voorhees, NJ 08043 81%111$105,473$429,700$242 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · 7 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.