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 43204

Columbus: median income $59,266, home value $185,800, $162/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oshkosh, WI 54901 96%397$61,794$177,700$163 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40214 95%191$54,931$184,600$146 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, FL 32211 94%669$57,021$229,700$179 pricier homes ($44K more)
Louisville, KY 40218 94%184$58,811$205,300$147 newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46203 94%162$57,393$168,200$137 Very close on everything we compare
Utica, NY 13502 92%460$57,835$158,000$154 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Savannah, GA 31404 92%557$53,303$215,500$209 pricier homes ($30K more)
Louisville, KY 40219 92%188$55,720$204,200$167 newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46219 92%158$60,803$184,900$118 Very close on everything we compare
Des Moines, IA 50315 92%562$60,590$173,200$187 more homeowners
Racine, WI 53403 92%310$59,820$176,000$188 smaller
Omaha, NE 68104 92%683$60,549$168,100$158 Very close on everything we compare
San Antonio, TX 78213 92%1,132$55,884$216,400$164 pricier homes ($31K more)
El Paso, TX 79925 92%1,415$57,623$192,900$140 Very close on everything we compare
Roanoke, VA 24012 91%250$52,973$184,400$143 smaller · older residents
Bethany, OK 73008 91%852$57,459$173,200$139 smaller
Amarillo, TX 79106 91%1,079$59,493$174,400$134 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Harrisburg, PA 17109 90%331$71,833$215,900$163 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Norfolk, VA 23513 90%426$68,380$234,000$200 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Fort Worth, TX 76114 90%936$62,073$222,600$195 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32210 89%673$61,050$225,600$164 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · newer homes
Grandview, MO 64030 89%615$53,216$188,800$149 smaller · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64117 89%612$59,601$186,900$164 smaller
Omaha, NE 68134 89%686$66,989$222,000$165 pricier homes ($36K more) · newer homes
Fort Worth, TX 76115 89%938$52,411$150,600$144 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller

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.