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 43229

Columbus: median income $57,561, home value $228,200, $180/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlotte, NC 28208 93%354$55,431$236,300$231 Very close on everything we compare
Indianapolis, IN 46227 93%170$53,629$210,000$127 Very close on everything we compare
Corpus Christi, TX 78412 93%1,185$61,215$197,500$147 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Richmond, VA 23223 92%348$55,731$265,200$238 pricier homes ($37K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46224 92%176$55,986$181,600$147 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Irving, TX 75061 92%923$63,798$257,800$181 pricier homes ($30K more)
Richmond, VA 23224 91%346$50,475$207,500$217 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, FL 32216 91%682$61,821$266,500$181 pricier homes ($38K more) · newer homes
Louisville, KY 40218 91%194$58,811$205,300$147 smaller
Kenosha, WI 53140 91%306$58,006$206,700$190 smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53225 91%335$56,545$188,400$163 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Fort Worth, TX 76112 91%939$57,724$225,900$159 5 min longer commute
Fort Worth, TX 76116 91%950$56,187$305,800$193 pricier homes ($78K more)
Houston, TX 77092 91%999$58,728$242,900$200 Very close on everything we compare
San Antonio, TX 78217 91%1,137$60,988$242,300$150 smaller
New Britain, CT 06053 90%543$62,645$220,800$214 older homes
Louisville, KY 40219 90%198$55,720$204,200$167 Very close on everything we compare
San Antonio, TX 78213 90%1,142$55,884$216,400$164 Very close on everything we compare
San Antonio, TX 78238 90%1,149$57,769$209,700$146 smaller
Clementon, NJ 08021 89%422$68,044$217,000$210 6 min longer commute
Tampa, FL 33617 89%833$50,948$296,900$214 pricier homes ($69K more)
Memphis, TN 38134 89%506$60,622$207,000$145 more single-family homes
Indianapolis, IN 46214 89%177$59,178$201,800$141 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53223 89%335$60,839$203,100$156 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Houston, TX 77035 89%1,009$58,686$283,800$164 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller · 7 min longer 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.