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 53726

Madison: median income $47,754, home value $647,300, $341/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kingston, RI 02881 74%920$56,472$575,000$369 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15232 70%521$66,582$553,700$292 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · older residents
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 66%295$64,231$491,200$393 cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger
Eugene, OR 97403 61%1,674$45,417$592,200$330 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · less walkable
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 60%1,161$52,199$548,700$364 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · older residents
Columbus, OH 43212 58%393$77,257$533,700$336 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger
Tucson, AZ 85701 57%1,391$51,794$492,100$338 cheaper homes ($155K less) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73103 56%679$54,561$441,500$221 cheaper homes ($206K less) · older residents · older homes
Indianapolis, IN 46202 55%283$63,506$439,200$222 cheaper homes ($208K less) · larger · older residents
Burlington, VT 05401 54%813$65,657$492,100$360 cheaper homes ($155K less) · larger · older homes
Charleston, SC 29403 54%876$66,944$674,000$586 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · older residents
Raleigh, NC 27605 53%763$71,096$540,000$389 cheaper homes ($107K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Richmond, VA 23220 52%736$61,381$473,100$318 cheaper homes ($174K less) · larger · older residents
Boulder, CO 80302 52%845$61,698$1,190,800$604 pricier homes ($544K more) · larger · newer homes
Fort Collins, CO 80521 52%824$58,082$564,900$378 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · less walkable
New Haven, CT 06510 51%852$58,913$651,800$389 more renters · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43201 51%394$43,731$440,000$272 cheaper homes ($207K less) · larger · more renters
Austin, TX 78751 50%993$80,915$852,000$470 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($205K more) · larger
Amherst, MA 01002 48%861$70,818$481,100$314 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger · more homeowners
Savannah, GA 31401 48%885$52,509$552,400$346 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · older homes
Birmingham, AL 35205 48%677$51,158$293,800$235 cheaper homes ($354K less) · larger · older residents
Boulder, CO 80303 48%844$78,555$961,900$467 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($315K more) · larger
State College, PA 16801 47%615$61,836$414,600$228 cheaper homes ($233K less) · larger · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45220 47%372$53,440$402,900$200 cheaper homes ($244K less) · larger · older residents
Portland, OR 97201 47%1,642$63,250$673,600$303 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 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.