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 31903

Columbus: median income $32,401, home value $81,000, $46/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gary, IN 46407 81%646$28,526$60,200$48 smaller · more homeowners
Baton Rouge, LA 70805 79%389$25,397$108,500$47 pricier homes ($28K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Mobile, AL 36603 76%219$26,879$109,100$68 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · older residents
Jackson, MS 39204 76%308$30,237$69,500$30 smaller · more walkable
Baton Rouge, LA 70807 74%391$27,534$121,100$47 pricier homes ($40K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Gary, IN 46402 73%647$33,529$85,400$60 smaller · more homeowners · older homes
Killeen, TX 76541 73%756$37,349$116,300$94 pricier homes ($35K more)
Jackson, MS 39209 72%309$36,344$78,400$48 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Anderson, IN 46016 72%532$36,029$78,500$46 more homeowners · more single-family homes · older homes
Beaumont, TX 77703 72%564$31,803$87,600$77 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Akron, OH 44307 71%626$27,697$85,500$95 smaller
Akron, OH 44311 71%626$24,369$68,800$61 smaller · younger residents
Shreveport, LA 71109 70%516$32,939$93,600$37 older residents · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Monroe, LA 71202 70%416$28,213$83,600$66 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Pontiac, MI 48342 69%712$35,253$101,300$99 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Birmingham, AL 35211 68%133$34,884$96,200$75 more homeowners · more walkable
Itta Bena, MS 38941 68%321$38,705$91,100$41 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Kinston, NC 28501 67%466$35,118$79,000$82 older residents · more homeowners
Birmingham, AL 35207 67%134$31,486$80,300$69 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Lafayette, LA 70501 67%443$33,365$116,900$79 pricier homes ($36K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Shreveport, LA 71108 67%515$32,055$71,500$47 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Clarksdale, MS 38614 66%352$37,383$92,300$64 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Mansfield, OH 44902 66%591$31,343$62,300$56 smaller · older homes
Memphis, TN 38127 65%351$36,901$90,300$75 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Meridian, MS 39307 65%221$30,413$91,300$34 older residents · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners

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.