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 43211

Columbus: median income $42,579, home value $112,700, $152/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Louisville, KY 40215 95%196$43,725$114,900$143 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68111 95%686$42,185$116,400$124 Very close on everything we compare
Tulsa, OK 74106 92%754$40,776$109,500$123 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73109 90%855$43,133$99,200$109 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73119 90%857$45,421$100,600$123 Very close on everything we compare
Savannah, GA 31415 88%558$37,109$149,700$167 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Kansas City, MO 64132 88%621$45,622$108,000$98 smaller
Tulsa, OK 74115 87%751$44,608$83,800$126 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more homeowners
Jacksonville, FL 32254 86%672$34,953$110,500$152 smaller
Kansas City, MO 64130 86%620$42,221$86,300$93 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Wichita, KS 67211 86%788$44,120$109,400$95 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68110 86%685$39,813$132,800$122 smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73108 86%856$37,168$80,700$167 cheaper homes ($32K less)
El Paso, TX 79930 86%1,426$42,099$135,000$134 more apartments and townhomes
Saint Louis, MO 63121 85%402$42,701$95,600$100 Very close on everything we compare
Wichita, KS 67213 85%790$50,170$89,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Chattanooga, TN 37407 84%369$35,845$98,900$168 smaller · younger residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46806 84%133$47,895$84,100$106 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Lafayette, IN 47904 84%208$51,687$133,100$163 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Louis, MO 63134 84%403$44,680$94,700$115 smaller · more homeowners
Tulsa, OK 74110 84%753$42,054$71,400$122 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more homeowners
Fort Worth, TX 76105 84%940$45,770$153,600$176 pricier homes ($41K more) · 6 min longer commute
Memphis, TN 38122 83%507$48,710$123,000$117 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63137 83%396$43,422$82,900$93 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73129 83%853$46,670$84,700$120 cheaper homes ($28K less) · newer 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.