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, MS 39705

Columbus: median income $68,487, home value $231,800, $145/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Warsaw, IN 46582 95%553$66,738$255,300$165 Very close on everything we compare
Carterville, IL 62918 94%294$70,920$200,200$135 cheaper homes ($32K less)
South Bend, IN 46637 92%578$71,462$207,100$154 Very close on everything we compare
Alexandria, LA 71303 92%281$67,156$244,200$143 larger
Northport, AL 35473 91%56$69,657$272,800$168 pricier homes ($41K more)
Plover, WI 54467 91%755$87,580$268,600$168 pricier homes ($37K more)
Saint Peter, MN 56082 91%801$71,456$275,200$169 pricier homes ($43K more)
Kearney, NE 68845 91%768$76,978$282,000$147 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Shreveport, LA 71115 91%309$65,509$262,700$129 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents
Beaumont, TX 77706 91%410$73,185$244,800$124 larger
Bemidji, MN 56601 90%1,023$72,262$260,900$170 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Kearney, NE 68847 90%764$73,818$238,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Texarkana, TX 75503 90%322$72,159$229,800$148 larger
Dalton, GA 30720 89%217$69,369$249,800$146 larger
Menomonie, WI 54751 89%803$72,028$253,000$168 larger · younger residents
Rochester, MN 55904 89%753$77,016$253,600$186 larger
Mankato, MN 56003 89%796$82,538$270,400$162 pricier homes ($39K more)
Shreveport, LA 71105 89%312$67,968$213,000$120 larger · older homes
Little Rock, AR 72210 89%241$69,453$244,300$155 7 min longer commute
Bryan, TX 77802 89%501$70,666$254,500$170 larger
Morgantown, WV 26501 88%630$63,529$219,800$157 larger · older homes
Portage, MI 49002 88%618$73,647$246,400$174 larger · older homes
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 88%267$66,654$219,800$135 larger
Jefferson City, MO 65101 88%401$74,807$243,600$142 larger
Jefferson City, MO 65109 88%406$74,694$221,600$147 larger

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.