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 53711

Madison: median income $100,735, home value $424,600, $260/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlottesville, VA 22902 91%671$93,463$436,200$290 smaller
Columbus, OH 43085 91%390$112,517$407,100$227 smaller
Cary, NC 27511 89%759$107,860$456,000$286 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 89%197$99,343$417,900$213 less walkable
Ann Arbor, MI 48103 88%293$116,194$471,700$288 pricier homes ($47K more)
Dallas, TX 75248 88%801$100,414$576,100$254 pricier homes ($152K more)
Fort Collins, CO 80525 88%821$91,636$588,400$265 pricier homes ($164K more) · newer homes
Albuquerque, NM 87111 88%1,063$90,290$379,500$235 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents
Charlottesville, VA 22901 87%665$92,145$501,700$272 pricier homes ($77K more)
Decatur, GA 30033 87%696$111,616$455,300$265 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Saint Paul, MN 55113 87%229$86,792$350,200$207 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55426 87%236$99,347$364,600$237 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · older homes
Plano, TX 75075 87%797$98,365$428,000$219 6 min longer commute
Richardson, TX 75080 87%800$92,903$447,100$272 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
South Burlington, VT 05403 86%817$105,616$442,400$281 smaller · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43221 86%390$118,768$446,900$279 Very close on everything we compare
San Antonio, TX 78209 86%1,061$86,514$497,000$266 pricier homes ($72K more) · more renters
Portland, ME 04103 85%962$89,796$459,500$356 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · older homes
Newark, DE 19711 85%747$95,403$398,900$217 cheaper homes ($26K less) · less walkable
Raleigh, NC 27615 85%758$112,754$479,000$241 pricier homes ($54K more) · newer homes
Charlotte, NC 28210 85%714$100,824$531,700$315 pricier homes ($107K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Columbia, SC 29206 85%773$91,847$369,500$215 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Fort Collins, CO 80526 85%823$88,686$551,800$273 pricier homes ($127K more)
Salt Lake City, UT 84106 85%1,160$101,551$567,900$329 pricier homes ($143K more) · older homes
Louisville, KY 40207 84%385$101,898$421,200$202 smaller · older 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.