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 53715

Madison: median income $38,996, home value $450,600, $356/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43201 89%393$43,731$440,000$272 larger
Gainesville, FL 32601 80%1,006$30,352$284,300$254 cheaper homes ($166K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 76%1,162$52,199$548,700$364 pricier homes ($98K more) · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55414 70%231$51,966$440,500$233 larger · newer homes
Austin, TX 78705 69%995$32,380$647,600$378 pricier homes ($197K more) · larger · newer homes
Eugene, OR 97403 69%1,675$45,417$592,200$330 pricier homes ($142K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Tucson, AZ 85719 67%1,389$42,241$304,300$266 cheaper homes ($146K less) · larger
Provo, UT 84606 66%1,161$52,811$443,600$275 larger · less walkable · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15213 64%519$31,069$233,500$205 cheaper homes ($217K less) · larger
Birmingham, AL 35205 64%676$51,158$293,800$235 cheaper homes ($157K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Eugene, OR 97401 62%1,676$52,022$494,100$328 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · older residents
Indianapolis, IN 46202 61%282$63,506$439,200$222 older residents · 5 min longer commute
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 61%1,163$52,952$440,200$399 older residents · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Columbia, SC 29201 58%772$32,297$255,800$213 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger · newer homes
Fort Collins, CO 80521 58%825$58,082$564,900$378 pricier homes ($114K more) · larger · more homeowners
Bloomington, IN 47408 57%306$45,644$346,900$188 cheaper homes ($104K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 57%293$64,231$491,200$393 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Denton, TX 76201 57%798$39,982$257,700$188 cheaper homes ($193K less) · larger · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23220 56%735$61,381$473,100$318 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Carrboro, NC 27510 54%739$61,837$449,700$282 older residents · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Kingston, RI 02881 53%918$56,472$575,000$369 pricier homes ($124K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Burlington, VT 05401 53%812$65,657$492,100$360 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Wilmington, NC 28403 53%870$54,547$386,700$277 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · older residents
Savannah, GA 31401 53%884$52,509$552,400$346 pricier homes ($102K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Tucson, AZ 85701 53%1,392$51,794$492,100$338 pricier homes ($42K 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.