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 Houston, AL 35572

Houston: median income $70,911, home value $305,000, $468/sq ft, 44-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tahuya, WA 98588 83%2,061$61,975$336,300$448 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Tygh Valley, OR 97063 77%1,948$58,490$278,100$253 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Riverside, WA 98849 76%1,928$63,875$277,200$408 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Cat Spring, TX 78933 74%614$68,444$272,600$293 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Horseshoe Bend, ID 83629 73%1,683$72,500$398,000$296 pricier homes ($93K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Red Rock, TX 78662 72%659$94,005$248,600$469 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · younger residents
Moapa, NV 89025 72%1,547$59,777$316,800$254 more single-family homes
Gates, OR 97346 72%1,995$83,750$391,900$280 pricier homes ($87K more) · younger residents
Thornton, TX 76687 71%568$73,323$254,500$326 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · younger residents
Lakebay, WA 98349 71%2,047$75,875$370,200$316 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger · younger residents
Gatesville, NC 27938 70%614$65,217$151,200— cheaper homes ($154K less) · more renters
Palmyra, TN 37142 70%159$59,083$267,400$254 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Sunset, TX 76270 70%605$73,553$235,200$224 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · younger residents
Kingsbury, TX 78638 70%691$69,250$317,400$307 larger · younger residents · more renters
Wellington, NV 89444 70%1,803$58,726$464,000$283 pricier homes ($159K more) · larger
Mc Clellanville, SC 29458 69%451$86,431$370,900$337 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · younger residents
Weirsdale, FL 32195 69%475$57,000$215,100$226 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Penhook, VA 24137 68%469$65,361$210,400$451 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · 13 min shorter commute
Macon, NC 27551 68%548$59,375$175,000$312 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Steinhatchee, FL 32359 68%382$51,125$228,100$275 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Hoodsport, WA 98548 68%2,068$68,452$315,000$295 larger · 8 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Osteen, FL 32764 67%512$86,224$350,700$220 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Spurger, TX 77660 67%469$61,500$181,900— cheaper homes ($123K less) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Stanley, NM 87056 67%1,068$76,563$238,000— cheaper homes ($67K less) · 8 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Quilcene, WA 98376 67%2,060$57,250$344,700$306 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · more single-family homes

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.