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 New Orleans, LA 70127

New Orleans: median income $40,765, home value $204,700, $113/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Houston, TX 77031 92%335$47,162$232,500$131 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Houston, TX 77013 91%315$47,060$174,400$118 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Hazelwood, MO 63042 88%605$49,453$149,400$128 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Houston, TX 77061 88%319$45,115$224,400$95 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73139 87%574$49,655$176,400$137 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77072 87%337$51,070$187,800$114 larger
Morrow, GA 30260 86%413$52,666$205,700$136 younger residents
Houston, TX 77067 85%328$52,032$186,200$113 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Wayne, IN 46816 84%807$45,343$157,700$153 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Houston, TX 77099 84%337$49,396$198,900$122 larger
Asheboro, NC 27203 83%710$46,336$156,300$145 cheaper homes ($48K less) · less walkable
Riverdale, GA 30274 83%408$52,209$174,300$133 cheaper homes ($30K less) · less walkable
Cocoa, FL 32922 83%568$44,469$217,400$184 smaller · older homes
Lake Wales, FL 33853 83%528$44,474$209,300$144 smaller · less walkable
San Antonio, TX 78219 83%504$52,094$162,000$133 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Mobile, AL 36609 82%117$49,830$205,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
Memphis, TN 38116 82%345$42,183$138,600$90 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46226 82%712$50,325$158,600$117 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · older homes
Indianapolis, IN 46227 82%701$53,629$210,000$127 larger · younger residents
Houston, TX 77021 82%323$45,574$227,900$152 Very close on everything we compare
San Antonio, TX 78218 82%507$57,285$190,900$145 larger
Columbia, SC 29203 81%593$46,054$141,300$148 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Fort Pierce, FL 34950 81%610$30,400$213,200$131 Very close on everything we compare
Houston, TX 77039 81%321$47,119$165,600$137 cheaper homes ($39K less) · more homeowners
San Antonio, TX 78238 81%520$57,769$209,700$146 Very close on everything we compare

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.