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 43203

Columbus: median income $47,572, home value $319,300, $169/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Paul, MN 55103 88%621$48,390$257,500$205 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
New Orleans, LA 70113 84%801$39,333$305,800$141 older residents
Atlanta, GA 30337 83%445$51,388$320,900$181 less walkable · newer homes
Omaha, NE 68131 83%687$48,925$227,200$161 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
New Haven, CT 06519 82%534$49,619$316,700$181 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Portsmouth, VA 23704 82%420$49,583$230,300$175 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 82%138$46,854$184,800$150 cheaper homes ($135K less)
Bakersfield, CA 93301 82%1,983$43,561$295,700$209 larger · newer homes
Spokane, WA 99204 82%1,782$58,277$397,700$199 pricier homes ($78K more) · older homes
Jackson, MS 39202 81%664$38,554$222,100$135 cheaper homes ($97K less)
El Paso, TX 79902 81%1,428$50,873$238,500$163 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · older residents
Albuquerque, NM 87102 81%1,336$42,990$197,300$230 cheaper homes ($122K less) · larger
Albuquerque, NM 87108 81%1,333$42,724$243,200$193 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Spokane, WA 99201 80%1,782$41,171$312,600$207 larger · older residents · older homes
New London, CT 06320 79%577$59,170$253,300$223 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · older homes
Buffalo, NY 14201 79%293$40,512$337,600$194 older homes
Norfolk, VA 23504 79%422$44,659$269,400$182 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · younger residents
Norfolk, VA 23505 79%419$58,579$326,300$221 larger
Lexington, KY 40504 79%158$46,055$222,600$184 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Tucson, AZ 85716 79%1,641$49,061$324,000$231 larger
Worcester, MA 01605 78%603$54,642$392,100$270 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger
Kansas City, MO 64109 78%621$41,943$275,000$124 cheaper homes ($44K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Little Rock, AR 72202 78%626$50,899$262,500$149 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Memphis, TN 38104 77%510$58,117$317,200$167 larger
Detroit, MI 48216 77%163$44,335$242,600$106 cheaper homes ($77K less) · older homes

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.