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, KS 66725

Columbus: median income $48,443, home value $105,000, $73/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pana, IL 62557 92%349$51,389$88,900$91 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Carmel, IL 62863 92%397$55,916$105,500$72 larger
Sharon, TN 38255 91%341$45,990$110,400$72 smaller
Carmi, IL 62821 91%373$55,367$116,300$54 Very close on everything we compare
Eldorado, IL 62930 91%356$52,931$93,400$63 Very close on everything we compare
Monessen, PA 15062 90%834$52,889$95,900$65 Very close on everything we compare
New Castle, PA 16102 90%820$56,053$104,900$84 older homes
Belle, WV 25015 90%735$56,681$98,100$63 Very close on everything we compare
Red Bay, AL 35582 90%423$48,235$117,900$64 Very close on everything we compare
Leland, MS 38756 90%345$45,625$113,400$102 Very close on everything we compare
Oelwein, IA 50662 90%412$48,646$107,700$68 older homes
Louisiana, MO 63353 90%260$46,875$95,700$72 Very close on everything we compare
Shelbina, MO 63468 90%233$45,882$100,600$91 smaller
Trenton, MO 64683 90%213$52,109$110,000$78 larger
Northern Cambria, PA 15714 89%897$52,500$102,500$92 Very close on everything we compare
White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986 89%800$50,610$121,000$105 Very close on everything we compare
Madison, WV 25130 89%719$53,294$95,900$76 Very close on everything we compare
Watseka, IL 60970 89%458$46,688$119,900$85 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsfield, IL 62363 89%278$58,500$118,000$86 older residents
Harrisburg, IL 62946 89%350$51,566$97,300$85 larger
Falls City, NE 68355 89%204$56,607$108,800$58 Very close on everything we compare
Clayton, NM 88415 89%462$44,952$120,800$77 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Ridgway, PA 15853 88%910$59,344$109,400— Very close on everything we compare
Titusville, PA 16354 88%867$48,963$102,500$83 larger
Audubon, IA 50025 88%315$52,438$118,100$97 smaller

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.