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 Forest Park, GA 30297

Forest Park: median income $45,124, home value $152,900, $124/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pasadena, TX 77506 92%691$49,586$146,800$157 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43223 90%443$46,911$131,100$144 7 min shorter commute
Asheboro, NC 27203 86%299$46,336$156,300$145 6 min shorter commute
Memphis, TN 38128 86%336$47,645$138,000$91 7 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46226 86%440$50,325$158,600$117 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73110 86%752$51,228$126,100$130 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Fort Worth, TX 76115 86%752$52,411$150,600$144 6 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77017 86%695$51,079$158,300$146 more homeowners
San Antonio, TX 78242 86%888$50,644$148,200$136 more homeowners · newer homes
Houston, TX 77012 85%695$45,025$162,200$156 smaller · more walkable
Houston, TX 77093 85%694$46,766$142,800$118 larger · more homeowners
San Antonio, TX 78220 85%875$41,710$143,700$141 smaller · more homeowners
El Paso, TX 79904 85%1,286$41,841$127,100$142 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Hazelwood, MO 63042 84%489$49,453$149,400$128 smaller · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63138 84%484$56,096$139,100$103 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77076 84%696$42,522$177,300$160 more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53218 83%685$45,642$133,400$139 7 min shorter commute · more walkable
Fort Worth, TX 76119 83%748$51,267$160,400$154 larger · more homeowners
Houston, TX 77013 83%690$47,060$174,400$118 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Houston, TX 77039 83%692$47,119$165,600$137 more homeowners
San Antonio, TX 78219 83%871$52,094$162,000$133 smaller · more homeowners · newer homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46816 82%513$45,343$157,700$153 more homeowners
Houston, TX 77067 82%697$52,032$186,200$113 pricier homes ($33K more) · newer homes
South Houston, TX 77587 82%694$53,497$189,300$160 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Columbia, SC 29203 81%195$46,054$141,300$148 9 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.