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 43214

Columbus: median income $94,183, home value $400,400, $290/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milwaukee, WI 53226 94%332$93,132$335,600$245 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63132 94%404$87,385$417,000$270 smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55426 93%626$99,347$364,600$237 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Portland, ME 04103 92%701$89,796$459,500$356 pricier homes ($59K more)
Louisville, KY 40207 92%188$101,898$421,200$202 Very close on everything we compare
Hamden, CT 06517 90%537$104,550$339,400$255 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63119 90%404$106,183$351,100$241 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Orlando, FL 32806 88%803$89,046$441,300$288 pricier homes ($41K more) · newer homes
Lexington, KY 40502 88%161$76,948$517,900$253 pricier homes ($118K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53213 88%330$101,688$340,100$258 cheaper homes ($60K less) · younger residents · older homes
Saint Paul, MN 55116 88%616$81,141$418,200$260 more apartments and townhomes
Minneapolis, MN 55406 88%619$93,910$354,100$263 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55418 88%623$99,397$348,700$232 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Dallas, TX 75218 88%907$107,366$521,000$329 pricier homes ($121K more) · 5 min longer commute
Des Moines, IA 50312 87%567$92,242$291,900$221 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller
Montpelier, VT 05602 86%608$81,320$360,000$259 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Collingswood, NJ 08108 86%421$108,151$395,300$332 5 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15215 86%167$99,071$311,300$256 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32803 86%800$107,592$455,600$334 pricier homes ($55K more)
Orlando, FL 32804 86%798$113,231$561,000$351 pricier homes ($161K more)
Louisville, KY 40205 86%191$99,966$375,300$208 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more homeowners
Fort Thomas, KY 41075 86%102$104,875$335,600$265 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Portland, OR 97217 86%2,025$100,361$578,700$311 pricier homes ($178K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15228 85%158$123,681$383,700$263 higher income ($29K more)
Birmingham, AL 35222 85%497$84,066$399,800$251 smaller · younger residents

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.