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, SC 29205

Columbia: median income $64,231, home value $349,700, $234/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Omaha, NE 68132 94%960$68,221$333,900$193 smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45227 89%403$71,646$298,800$224 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Norfolk, VA 23508 83%332$74,885$408,100$224 pricier homes ($58K more) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35222 83%333$84,066$399,800$251 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55108 82%997$86,308$375,600$233 pricier homes ($26K more)
Mission, KS 66202 81%833$75,129$284,900$229 cheaper homes ($65K less) · newer homes
Omaha, NE 68106 81%960$69,806$217,800$186 cheaper homes ($132K less)
Albany, NY 12203 80%715$83,147$279,500$213 cheaper homes ($70K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Louisville, KY 40204 80%394$71,116$329,000$220 smaller · older residents · older homes
Louisville, KY 40206 80%394$75,798$273,900$200 cheaper homes ($76K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Little Rock, AR 72205 80%649$68,415$229,600$167 cheaper homes ($120K less) · older residents
Albany, NY 12208 79%714$70,413$264,700$207 cheaper homes ($85K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Columbus, OH 43209 79%426$89,713$392,500$256 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($43K more) · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63130 79%611$85,823$316,100$202 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older homes
Overland Park, KS 66204 79%834$75,889$269,400$249 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Tulsa, OK 74105 79%858$69,547$337,100$210 older residents
Columbus, OH 43206 78%425$75,806$317,300$193 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older homes
Saint Louis, MO 63132 78%614$87,385$417,000$270 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller · older residents
Kansas City, MO 64110 78%829$63,044$256,700$194 cheaper homes ($93K less) · older homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73118 78%943$69,827$249,200$186 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller · older residents
Albuquerque, NM 87106 78%1,456$49,781$354,200$242 more renters
Greensboro, NC 27403 77%158$57,917$249,200$186 cheaper homes ($101K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Covington, KY 41011 77%402$69,970$304,200$204 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Cincinnati, OH 45213 77%406$76,356$286,100$212 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · older homes
Saint Paul, MN 55104 77%995$75,712$317,700$207 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · older homes

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.