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 43205

Columbus: median income $60,181, home value $317,300, $160/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Memphis, TN 38104 93%509$58,117$317,200$167 larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73106 93%853$60,205$301,900$199 Very close on everything we compare
Buffalo, NY 14214 92%297$58,228$240,800$156 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63118 88%400$57,762$221,200$131 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
New Orleans, LA 70125 88%800$61,174$429,200$177 pricier homes ($112K more) · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14216 87%296$69,629$294,700$200 larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 87%163$66,993$246,400$205 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63104 87%399$68,764$268,900$161 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Spokane, WA 99204 87%1,782$58,277$397,700$199 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Pittsburgh, PA 15208 86%165$63,086$321,100$226 more homeowners
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 86%250$64,661$241,900$211 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
New Orleans, LA 70119 86%798$53,143$371,000$195 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Tulsa, OK 74120 86%754$68,255$434,600$188 pricier homes ($117K more) · smaller
San Antonio, TX 78212 86%1,140$62,801$330,600$197 larger
Schenectady, NY 12308 83%508$63,434$211,900$159 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15202 83%157$68,287$215,700$153 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · more homeowners
Pittsburgh, PA 15203 83%161$67,345$252,100$189 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63143 83%404$65,861$236,300$237 cheaper homes ($81K less)
El Paso, TX 79902 83%1,428$50,873$238,500$163 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · older residents
Rochester, NY 14620 82%353$61,783$205,000$179 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger
Covington, KY 41011 82%103$69,970$304,200$204 larger · newer homes
Des Moines, IA 50311 81%571$61,957$226,500$202 cheaper homes ($91K less) · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63112 81%401$45,542$212,700$135 cheaper homes ($105K less)
New London, CT 06320 80%577$59,170$253,300$223 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14213 80%294$53,870$211,200$116 cheaper homes ($106K less) · 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.