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.

Reset

Towns most like Orlando, FL 32805

Orlando: median income $40,515, home value $238,800, $223/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Orleans, LA 70114 85%529$43,493$206,700$150 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Dallas, TX 75215 84%957$45,557$190,100$172 cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Waterbury, CT 06705 82%1,016$53,954$202,400$198 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Gretna, LA 70053 82%530$39,950$241,300$148 younger residents · less walkable
Houston, TX 77011 80%843$50,133$209,300$179 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older homes
Houston, TX 77022 80%847$52,739$219,200$183 younger residents
Houston, TX 77023 79%843$51,430$302,300$188 pricier homes ($64K more) · younger residents
San Antonio, TX 78201 79%1,036$47,121$197,800$172 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · younger residents
Portsmouth, VA 23704 78%645$49,583$230,300$175 younger residents
Houston, TX 77021 78%846$45,574$227,900$152 younger residents
Houston, TX 77026 78%844$39,211$175,000$178 cheaper homes ($64K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Clearlake, CA 95422 78%2,453$42,241$217,000$201 younger residents · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Houston, TX 77020 77%843$50,119$163,300$175 cheaper homes ($76K less) · younger residents
Las Vegas, NV 89104 77%2,026$52,228$325,500$256 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · younger residents
Independence, MO 64050 76%1,042$48,834$145,300$156 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Hampton, VA 23663 75%657$54,336$202,300$191 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77012 75%841$45,025$162,200$156 cheaper homes ($77K less) · younger residents
Hemet, CA 92543 75%2,123$49,396$278,500$255 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Portsmouth, VA 23707 74%645$48,926$230,800$178 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75203 74%960$46,989$159,900$185 cheaper homes ($79K less) · younger residents
Houston, TX 77031 74%857$47,162$232,500$131 younger residents
Waterbury, CT 06704 73%1,017$48,718$192,000$205 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · younger residents
Richmond, VA 23224 73%660$50,475$207,500$217 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30315 73%398$50,822$317,700$200 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45237 73%757$44,913$170,600$150 cheaper homes ($68K less) · 5 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.