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, OH 43235

Columbus: median income $86,666, home value $383,500, $206/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Greenville, SC 29615 95%364$76,117$377,500$212 Very close on everything we compare
Gainesville, FL 32606 95%720$87,953$347,800$189 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 94%152$89,355$406,700$234 smaller
Baton Rouge, LA 70809 93%811$79,967$324,000$182 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Durham, NC 27707 92%361$74,406$407,800$249 Very close on everything we compare
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 92%430$79,309$486,800$210 pricier homes ($103K more) · 5 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35216 92%508$74,525$398,200$192 Very close on everything we compare
Lawrence, KS 66049 92%660$90,147$393,400$190 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, FL 32224 91%683$88,259$458,100$265 pricier homes ($75K more)
Tallahassee, FL 32308 91%669$77,967$328,000$217 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Madison, WI 53719 91%393$92,052$367,000$242 Very close on everything we compare
Overland Park, KS 66210 91%631$95,636$373,200$185 smaller
Bedford, TX 76021 91%931$87,097$374,400$206 Very close on everything we compare
Durham, NC 27705 90%357$73,066$455,000$261 pricier homes ($72K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46240 90%167$75,156$348,000$207 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Charlottesville, VA 22901 89%275$92,145$501,700$272 pricier homes ($118K more)
Raleigh, NC 27612 89%376$95,988$529,000$261 pricier homes ($146K more)
Greenville, SC 29607 89%366$74,503$359,500$194 newer homes
Marietta, GA 30067 89%435$83,568$445,900$210 pricier homes ($62K more) · 5 min longer commute
Smyrna, GA 30080 89%439$91,957$450,400$227 pricier homes ($67K more) · 7 min longer commute
Little Rock, AR 72211 89%637$83,134$284,100$157 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller
San Antonio, TX 78230 89%1,143$73,529$386,600$188 Very close on everything we compare
Cockeysville, MD 21030 88%337$89,015$450,700$233 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller
Huntsville, AL 35802 88%424$76,324$334,100$170 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40222 88%191$82,511$363,000$193 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.