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 29206

Columbia: median income $91,847, home value $369,500, $215/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 92%663$99,343$417,900$213 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · newer homes
Middlebury, VT 05753 91%805$91,659$416,900$258 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Lynchburg, VA 24503 91%255$89,137$347,500$168 Very close on everything we compare
Lexington, KY 40503 91%340$76,482$296,800$212 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Columbus, OH 43085 91%435$112,517$407,100$227 pricier homes ($38K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55113 91%998$86,792$350,200$207 larger
Minneapolis, MN 55426 91%1,002$99,347$364,600$237 more walkable
Newark, DE 19711 90%487$95,403$398,900$217 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Royal Oak, MI 48073 90%599$91,627$323,600$233 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Troy, MI 48083 90%601$90,794$315,800$199 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Metairie, LA 70005 90%605$89,194$430,200$249 pricier homes ($61K more) · older residents
Latham, NY 12110 89%717$105,024$340,100$264 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Huntsville, AL 35801 89%324$105,585$422,300$205 pricier homes ($53K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55441 89%1,006$101,981$470,100$214 pricier homes ($101K more)
Omaha, NE 68124 89%963$98,750$301,400$185 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Montpelier, VT 05602 88%837$81,320$360,000$259 smaller · older residents
Fort Thomas, KY 41075 88%399$104,875$335,600$265 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older homes
Rocky River, OH 44116 88%517$93,799$349,300$246 older residents · more walkable
Farmington, MI 48334 88%600$102,228$347,700$162 older residents
Greendale, WI 53129 88%723$95,012$311,800$231 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55427 88%1,005$92,821$360,200$193 more walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63132 88%614$87,385$417,000$270 pricier homes ($48K more)
Saint Louis, MO 63146 88%619$84,756$301,700$167 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Louisville, KY 40223 87%390$96,607$362,500$179 older residents · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43209 87%424$89,713$392,500$256 more walkable · 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.