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, NM 88029

Columbus: median income $26,090, home value $105,600, $56/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Richland, GA 31825 83%1,344$28,698$73,100— cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Niland, CA 92257 75%481$22,611$102,200— larger · older residents · older homes
Gretna, FL 32332 74%1,358$31,917$81,800— more renters · older homes
Gresham, SC 29546 73%1,643$32,043$97,100— larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Friars Point, MS 38631 73%998$29,583$84,300— younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Mamou, LA 70554 73%902$28,638$93,400$51 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Williamson, WV 25661 71%1,491$25,014$94,900$63 larger · more single-family homes · older homes
Saint James, LA 70086 71%1,001$35,739$96,400— younger residents · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Clio, SC 29525 68%1,630$28,618$70,200— cheaper homes ($35K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Baldwin, LA 70514 68%964$31,817$115,600$39 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Spearsville, LA 71277 68%881$26,686$80,200$68 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 13 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Dungannon, VA 24245 67%1,471$36,008$109,400$77 more single-family homes · older homes
Springfield, SC 29146 67%1,535$34,318$79,600$93 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more homeowners
Greensboro, AL 36744 67%1,171$30,518$136,100$69 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Tyler, AL 36785 67%1,215$29,619$104,700— 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Gibson, NC 28343 66%1,628$29,306$80,700$49 younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Morgan, GA 39866 66%1,352$31,023$92,000— larger · 12 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Angie, LA 70426 66%1,050$29,821$126,600$98 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Cherry Valley, AR 72324 66%1,001$36,324$104,900— larger · more single-family homes
Matewan, WV 25678 64%1,501$36,486$96,300$60 older residents · 11 min shorter commute
Orrum, NC 28369 64%1,660$40,000$77,800$77 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · more homeowners
Enigma, GA 31749 64%1,426$38,487$95,100— larger · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Uniontown, AL 36786 64%1,178$33,375$70,800— cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · younger residents
Durant, MS 39063 64%1,039$30,967$80,400$91 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Aberdeen, OH 45101 64%1,423$40,714$156,700$88 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute

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.