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, OH 43201

Columbus: median income $43,731, home value $440,000, $272/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Madison, WI 53715 89%393$38,996$450,600$356 smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55414 87%623$51,966$440,500$233 newer homes
Madison, WI 53703 84%392$47,847$471,800$436 pricier homes ($32K more)
Provo, UT 84606 83%1,507$52,811$443,600$275 Very close on everything we compare
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 81%1,513$52,199$548,700$364 pricier homes ($109K more) · smaller · older residents
Gainesville, FL 32601 76%716$30,352$284,300$254 cheaper homes ($156K less)
Tucson, AZ 85719 76%1,641$42,241$304,300$266 cheaper homes ($136K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Eugene, OR 97401 75%2,055$52,022$494,100$328 pricier homes ($54K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Denton, TX 76201 73%911$39,982$257,700$188 cheaper homes ($182K less)
Birmingham, AL 35205 72%496$51,158$293,800$235 cheaper homes ($146K less) · smaller · older residents
Indianapolis, IN 46202 72%168$63,506$439,200$222 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 69%1,514$52,952$440,200$399 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15213 67%164$31,069$233,500$205 cheaper homes ($207K less) · older homes
Gainesville, FL 32607 67%716$45,987$321,900$180 cheaper homes ($118K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Tempe, AZ 85281 67%1,657$64,538$381,000$345 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · newer homes
Carrboro, NC 27510 65%354$61,837$449,700$282 smaller · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Columbia, SC 29201 65%428$32,297$255,800$213 cheaper homes ($184K less) · newer homes
Des Moines, IA 50309 65%566$56,777$292,500$213 cheaper homes ($148K less) · smaller · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55404 65%625$41,940$291,600$223 cheaper homes ($148K less) · older residents
Bloomington, IN 47408 64%192$45,644$346,900$188 cheaper homes ($93K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Austin, TX 78705 64%1,066$32,380$647,600$378 pricier homes ($208K more) · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23220 63%343$61,381$473,100$318 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Wilmington, NC 28403 63%488$54,547$386,700$277 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Eugene, OR 97403 63%2,055$45,417$592,200$330 pricier homes ($152K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Tallahassee, FL 32301 62%665$50,942$226,700$188 cheaper homes ($213K less) · older residents · 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.