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 Columbus, GA 31901

Columbus: median income $51,424, home value $226,500, $132/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Scranton, PA 18509 83%804$51,062$183,700$129 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · more homeowners
El Paso, TX 79902 81%1,258$50,873$238,500$163 larger · more walkable
New York Mills, NY 13417 79%904$59,453$205,500$169 smaller · more homeowners
Cincinnati, OH 45223 78%463$49,312$210,100$176 larger · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 78%594$46,854$184,800$150 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · more walkable
Kansas City, MO 64109 78%704$41,943$275,000$124 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · more walkable
Detroit, MI 48216 77%689$44,335$242,600$106 younger residents · more walkable
Shreveport, LA 71104 77%510$56,833$164,000$97 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · younger residents
Scranton, PA 18510 76%803$53,235$181,600$117 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · younger residents
Duluth, MN 55806 76%1,058$42,833$161,400$150 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63112 76%521$45,542$212,700$135 larger · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Cincinnati, OH 45237 75%465$44,913$170,600$150 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · more homeowners
Dearborn, MI 48120 75%688$66,006$224,000$113 younger residents · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Troy, NY 12182 74%942$56,984$212,600$170 larger · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Syracuse, NY 13203 74%875$46,997$156,900$118 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · more walkable
Galveston, TX 77550 74%622$45,047$325,900$222 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger
Turners Falls, MA 01376 73%974$55,652$249,400$223 older residents · more homeowners
Watervliet, NY 12189 73%938$65,276$220,600$193 larger
Glens Falls, NY 12801 73%969$67,577$212,500$181 larger · more homeowners
Lynchburg, VA 24504 73%476$52,571$179,700$124 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · more homeowners
Winston-Salem, NC 27101 73%370$44,198$221,000$154 larger · newer homes
Jackson, MS 39202 73%303$38,554$222,100$135 younger residents · more walkable
Kansas City, KS 66103 73%706$52,479$148,400$199 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · younger residents
Willimantic, CT 06226 72%948$47,162$190,000$186 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · younger residents
Binghamton, NY 13905 72%830$53,362$151,500$108 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · younger residents

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.