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 43222

Columbus: median income $32,321, home value $228,300, $140/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Detroit, MI 48208 81%165$36,194$176,400$195 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · older residents
Springfield, MA 01107 78%563$35,632$243,600$187 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Waterbury, CT 06710 78%534$37,191$228,300$154 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Rochester, NY 14608 76%356$40,646$187,000$97 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Des Moines, IA 50314 76%566$39,950$147,900$140 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Kansas City, MO 64109 76%618$41,943$275,000$124 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · older residents
Macon, GA 31201 75%495$29,420$171,400$88 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · less walkable
Louisville, KY 40203 75%188$30,794$197,300$145 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · newer homes
Duluth, MN 55806 75%655$42,833$161,400$150 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Norfolk, VA 23523 74%425$35,533$224,600$153 larger · newer homes
Louisville, KY 40208 73%189$39,560$188,900$136 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · younger residents
Montgomery, AL 36104 72%555$33,823$172,700$104 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 72%135$46,854$184,800$150 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · older residents
Detroit, MI 48216 70%164$44,335$242,600$106 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, NY 14613 69%357$37,778$120,600$84 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Hartford, CT 06112 68%554$44,460$208,000$144 larger · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14207 68%297$39,753$133,600$103 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger
San Antonio, TX 78203 68%1,137$35,536$158,000$191 cheaper homes ($70K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35212 67%489$36,633$232,100$188 larger · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53210 67%334$48,217$174,400$100 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Bridgeport, CT 06607 66%524$50,000$232,700$191 larger · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Harrisburg, PA 17103 66%327$39,825$137,900$90 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Jackson, MS 39202 66%661$38,554$222,100$135 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
South Bend, IN 46601 66%206$30,789$145,000$96 cheaper homes ($83K less) · older residents · less walkable
Duluth, MN 55805 66%655$43,100$189,400$188 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute

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.