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 43206

Columbus: median income $75,806, home value $317,300, $193/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Paul, MN 55104 96%623$75,712$317,700$207 larger
Minneapolis, MN 55407 93%627$78,464$335,400$228 larger
Indianapolis, IN 46205 92%168$72,417$304,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsburgh, PA 15208 91%166$63,086$321,100$226 smaller
Kansas City, MO 64110 90%621$63,044$256,700$194 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15211 89%160$79,758$219,900$206 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40204 89%189$71,116$329,000$220 smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73118 88%851$69,827$249,200$186 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53207 87%330$79,117$243,600$241 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · more homeowners
San Antonio, TX 78212 87%1,139$62,801$330,600$197 Very close on everything we compare
Buffalo, NY 14216 86%298$69,629$294,700$200 more apartments and townhomes
Pittsburgh, PA 15202 86%158$68,287$215,700$153 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Covington, KY 41011 86%102$69,970$304,200$204 newer homes
Des Moines, IA 50311 86%571$61,957$226,500$202 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63109 86%402$69,938$264,700$201 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63110 86%400$81,655$339,900$208 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Louis, MO 63143 86%403$65,861$236,300$237 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Omaha, NE 68132 86%688$68,221$333,900$193 smaller · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15218 85%166$67,960$217,500$190 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller · older residents
Oaklyn, NJ 08107 84%418$80,833$300,500$259 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40217 84%190$69,114$233,800$199 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller
Grand Rapids, MI 49504 84%253$70,119$243,500$200 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63139 84%402$75,757$209,600$205 cheaper homes ($108K less) · more homeowners
Lincoln, NE 68502 84%724$68,523$227,300$153 cheaper homes ($90K less)
New Orleans, LA 70118 84%800$63,750$465,600$253 pricier homes ($148K more) · 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.