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 Madison, WI 53703

Madison: median income $47,847, home value $471,800, $436/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43201 84%392$43,731$440,000$272 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55414 83%231$51,966$440,500$233 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 75%1,163$52,199$548,700$364 pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller · older homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 75%1,164$52,952$440,200$399 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · older residents
Austin, TX 78705 72%996$32,380$647,600$378 pricier homes ($176K more) · newer homes
Portland, OR 97201 68%1,644$63,250$673,600$303 pricier homes ($202K more) · smaller · older residents
Denver, CO 80246 66%837$67,235$716,400$405 pricier homes ($245K more) · smaller · older residents
Tempe, AZ 85281 66%1,387$64,538$381,000$345 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
New Haven, CT 06510 64%850$58,913$651,800$389 pricier homes ($180K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46202 64%282$63,506$439,200$222 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80203 64%839$77,500$470,800$361 higher income ($30K more) · smaller · older residents
Provo, UT 84606 64%1,162$52,811$443,600$275 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more single-family homes
Berkeley, CA 94704 64%1,753$50,129$906,100$961 pricier homes ($434K more) · smaller · older homes
Eugene, OR 97401 63%1,676$52,022$494,100$328 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Carrboro, NC 27510 61%738$61,837$449,700$282 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Austin, TX 78752 59%993$67,682$422,000$334 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · older residents
Raleigh, NC 27605 58%761$71,096$540,000$389 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller · older residents
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 58%293$64,231$491,200$393 more homeowners · more single-family homes · older homes
Des Moines, IA 50309 58%240$56,777$292,500$213 cheaper homes ($179K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120 57%928$64,289$885,900$485 pricier homes ($414K more) · smaller
Nashville, TN 37203 57%498$71,281$549,000$460 pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller · older residents
Columbus, OH 43212 57%391$77,257$533,700$336 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43215 57%394$74,087$551,200$287 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($79K more) · smaller
Pittsburgh, PA 15232 56%519$66,582$553,700$292 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Addison, TX 75001 56%808$73,514$468,800$259 higher income ($26K more) · smaller · older 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.