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, WI 53925

Columbus: median income $84,044, home value $268,000, $193/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Le Sueur, MN 56058 97%254$86,677$280,300$158 Very close on everything we compare
Springville, NY 14141 96%526$80,906$217,800$170 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Terryville, CT 06786 95%823$87,306$265,300$233 Very close on everything we compare
Williamsport, MD 21795 94%635$87,864$295,800$180 pricier homes ($28K more)
Dayville, CT 06241 93%877$88,389$298,200$234 pricier homes ($30K more) · newer homes
Hartville, OH 44632 93%427$91,061$267,500$199 Very close on everything we compare
Two Harbors, MN 55616 93%287$76,127$259,200$170 Very close on everything we compare
Gardiner, ME 04345 92%960$77,410$242,800$258 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Swanton, VT 05488 92%795$77,154$288,700$225 Very close on everything we compare
Schuylerville, NY 12871 92%776$96,024$263,600$180 smaller
Biglerville, PA 17307 92%650$88,571$258,200$171 smaller
Winterset, IA 50273 92%289$82,633$219,400$200 cheaper homes ($49K less) · newer homes
Newport, NH 03773 91%845$81,232$239,300$213 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Lisbon Falls, ME 04252 91%946$73,476$258,500$236 smaller
Stafford Springs, CT 06076 91%854$92,016$267,300$219 older residents
Caledonia, NY 14423 91%564$80,807$183,000$192 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Hebron, OH 43025 91%410$87,381$287,700$190 smaller · older residents
Saint Clairsville, OH 43950 91%472$76,175$225,900$177 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Burton, OH 44021 91%422$82,008$242,900$170 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Rootstown, OH 44272 91%429$83,173$261,300$170 newer homes
Louisville, OH 44641 91%433$80,303$205,300$175 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Glenwood, IA 51534 91%378$93,646$246,600$177 Very close on everything we compare
De Witt, IA 52742 91%129$97,946$261,000$165 Very close on everything we compare
Ravena, NY 12143 90%771$95,101$234,000$215 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Alden, NY 14004 90%530$90,839$258,300$224 more homeowners

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.