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 29223

Columbia: median income $62,408, home value $202,900, $141/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Greensboro, NC 27406 94%148$59,563$204,400$164 Very close on everything we compare
Rocky Mount, NC 27804 93%218$61,359$209,300$133 smaller
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 93%419$70,477$241,800$181 pricier homes ($39K more)
Savannah, GA 31419 92%146$69,635$257,300$178 pricier homes ($54K more)
Jacksonville, FL 32244 92%271$62,204$241,700$167 pricier homes ($39K more)
Pensacola, FL 32506 92%451$62,486$206,100$164 smaller
Pensacola, FL 32514 92%442$66,644$259,600$167 pricier homes ($57K more)
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 92%385$62,301$234,000$154 pricier homes ($31K more)
Oklahoma City, OK 73132 92%953$60,419$213,500$131 smaller
Winston-Salem, NC 27127 91%140$61,926$219,600$164 Very close on everything we compare
Fayetteville, NC 28311 91%136$62,170$216,900$151 younger residents
Indianapolis, IN 46229 91%483$61,388$191,100$137 smaller
Fort Wayne, IN 46825 91%539$70,544$220,600$157 smaller
Gretna, LA 70056 91%608$59,027$230,500$137 pricier homes ($28K more)
Longview, TX 75605 91%807$73,190$252,300$160 pricier homes ($49K more)
San Antonio, TX 78233 91%1,069$76,421$220,800$147 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, GA 31909 90%255$69,166$221,300$149 Very close on everything we compare
Bossier City, LA 71111 90%745$65,292$276,600$157 pricier homes ($74K more)
Conway, AR 72032 90%658$64,695$209,800$148 smaller
Houston, TX 77040 90%903$65,028$244,700$152 pricier homes ($42K more)
Burlington, NC 27215 89%157$68,825$259,900$177 pricier homes ($57K more)
Goldsboro, NC 27534 89%192$62,574$208,000$160 smaller · less walkable
Decatur, GA 30035 89%191$66,799$244,200$142 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30349 89%207$67,023$271,600$141 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Richmond, KY 40475 89%316$63,050$244,300$178 pricier homes ($41K more)

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.