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.

Reset

Towns most like Columbus, OH 43202

Columbus: median income $69,524, home value $341,400, $264/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Haven, CT 06515 91%534$73,709$328,900$254 Very close on everything we compare
Worcester, MA 01609 90%602$68,381$444,000$267 pricier homes ($103K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 89%166$72,920$317,600$235 older residents
Kansas City, MO 64111 89%620$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55405 88%625$73,053$467,700$244 pricier homes ($126K more) · older homes
Albany, NY 12208 86%511$70,413$264,700$207 cheaper homes ($77K less) · more homeowners
Richmond, VA 23220 86%344$61,381$473,100$318 pricier homes ($132K more) · larger
Burlington, VT 05401 83%588$65,657$492,100$360 pricier homes ($151K more) · larger
Birmingham, AL 35205 83%497$51,158$293,800$235 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53211 83%329$75,256$434,500$282 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · older homes
Buffalo, NY 14216 82%295$69,629$294,700$200 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Buffalo, NY 14222 82%293$81,652$407,600$217 pricier homes ($66K more) · older homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 82%165$66,993$246,400$205 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller · older homes
Memphis, TN 38104 82%510$58,117$317,200$167 older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55408 82%624$70,326$396,100$214 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Rochester, NY 14620 81%352$61,783$205,000$179 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15203 81%162$67,345$252,100$189 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · older homes
Indianapolis, IN 46202 81%168$63,506$439,200$222 pricier homes ($98K more) · newer homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 81%245$64,661$241,900$211 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · older homes
Covington, KY 41011 80%104$69,970$304,200$204 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63110 80%399$81,655$339,900$208 more homeowners · older homes
Albuquerque, NM 87106 80%1,333$49,781$354,200$242 Very close on everything we compare
New Orleans, LA 70125 79%803$61,174$429,200$177 pricier homes ($88K more) · more homeowners
Winooski, VT 05404 78%589$79,522$381,500$280 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70118 78%803$63,750$465,600$253 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger · 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.