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 70128

New Orleans: median income $56,431, home value $240,200, $87/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Riverdale, GA 30296 85%405$63,292$219,700$125 less walkable
Houston, TX 77083 83%342$64,418$239,300$141 larger
Stone Mountain, GA 30088 81%425$70,325$238,700$134 less walkable
Houston, TX 77045 81%330$59,688$181,200$150 cheaper homes ($59K less)
San Antonio, TX 78222 81%508$66,362$199,500$135 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Decatur, GA 30035 80%422$66,799$244,200$142 Very close on everything we compare
San Antonio, TX 78239 80%505$70,098$229,200$128 8 min shorter commute
Decatur, GA 30034 79%419$63,517$251,400$135 larger · older residents
Jonesboro, GA 30236 78%407$66,973$249,100$137 larger
Conley, GA 30288 78%413$51,511$237,900$118 smaller · newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46229 78%710$61,388$191,100$137 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Florissant, MO 63033 78%605$66,776$173,700$126 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · older homes
Frostburg, MD 21532 77%910$63,690$182,400$114 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Pensacola, FL 32506 77%160$62,486$206,100$164 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · less walkable
Birmingham, AL 35235 77%315$63,295$194,500$108 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Hazel Crest, IL 60429 77%806$66,988$183,600$141 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · older homes
Houston, TX 77038 77%328$57,232$194,200$124 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Houston, TX 77071 77%334$54,139$245,100$122 more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Houston, TX 77088 77%329$54,411$200,000$141 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75232 76%444$61,847$220,100$164 older homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46815 75%812$73,239$209,500$141 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Dolton, IL 60419 75%811$57,887$151,300$138 cheaper homes ($89K less) · older homes
Independence, MO 64055 75%671$62,439$176,700$142 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Columbia, SC 29223 74%598$62,408$202,900$141 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Greenville, SC 29617 74%551$55,403$234,500$182 6 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.