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.

Reset

Towns most like Houston, TX 77002

Houston: median income $86,394, home value $305,000, $234/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indianapolis, IN 46204 73%866$86,396$381,400$234 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller
Saint Petersburg, FL 33716 72%781$75,226$209,800$206 cheaper homes ($95K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43240 68%1,001$82,895$329,200$224 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Norfolk, VA 23510 66%1,203$73,524$385,700$246 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller · older homes
Denver, CO 80216 66%880$82,143$425,700$270 pricier homes ($121K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
Orlando, FL 32801 65%848$80,871$428,000$274 pricier homes ($123K more) · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85004 62%1,015$73,750$417,400$331 pricier homes ($112K more) · smaller · younger residents
Phoenix, AZ 85034 62%1,013$63,559$422,200$280 pricier homes ($117K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Salt Lake City, UT 84101 60%1,200$72,735$499,300$474 pricier homes ($194K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Memphis, TN 38103 59%484$76,278$397,300$207 pricier homes ($92K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Saint Paul, MN 55114 58%1,057$62,766$319,800$230 smaller
Miami, FL 33130 57%966$61,009$517,300$536 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($212K more) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73134 57%424$66,307$228,300$125 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · younger residents
Philadelphia, PA 19122 56%1,341$63,676$349,800$247 pricier homes ($45K more) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Orlando, FL 32821 56%844$69,348$309,600$212 5 min longer commute · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Chattanooga, TN 37408 56%690$81,250$468,200$282 pricier homes ($163K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28202 55%925$105,889$443,500$361 pricier homes ($139K more) · more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28217 55%920$64,028$263,300$233 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28262 55%932$69,231$346,600$184 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · younger residents
Portland, OR 97209 55%1,835$80,301$587,300$343 pricier homes ($282K more) · more walkable
Des Moines, IA 50309 53%823$56,777$292,500$213 lower income ($30K less) · smaller · younger residents
Tacoma, WA 98402 53%1,882$60,505$531,300$438 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($226K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30313 52%701$84,960$363,800$225 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller · younger residents
Tempe, AZ 85281 52%1,006$64,538$381,000$345 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30329 51%706$76,579$488,300$229 pricier homes ($183K more) · more homeowners · 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.