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, TX 77003

Houston: median income $83,980, home value $384,400, $194/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kansas City, MO 64154 80%658$86,213$355,700$205 cheaper homes ($29K less) · less walkable
Denver, CO 80216 80%882$82,143$425,700$270 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · younger residents
Tampa, FL 33616 79%786$93,210$405,500$278 larger · less walkable
Scottdale, GA 30079 78%708$82,500$347,700$232 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43240 76%1,001$82,895$329,200$224 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Memphis, TN 38103 74%484$76,278$397,300$207 8 min shorter commute
Madison, WI 53718 74%981$102,843$363,600$227 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Saint Paul, MN 55121 74%1,050$87,152$301,400$195 cheaper homes ($83K less) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30318 73%698$83,116$430,600$248 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · less walkable
West Des Moines, IA 50266 73%821$87,025$345,600$221 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Charlotte, NC 28206 72%926$61,818$298,600$259 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Orlando, FL 32801 72%846$80,871$428,000$274 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · more renters
Lenexa, KS 66219 72%637$94,124$394,400$188 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Panama City Beach, FL 32407 71%571$80,831$404,200$235 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Orlando, FL 32835 71%840$71,418$349,100$211 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · less walkable
Overland Park, KS 66214 71%638$83,435$340,900$194 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Midvale, UT 84047 71%1,195$75,954$434,300$264 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33607 70%787$69,694$354,400$292 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older homes
Nashville, TN 37208 70%664$65,556$520,000$315 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · younger residents
Fargo, ND 58104 70%1,180$85,747$359,400$177 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Beaverton, OR 97006 70%1,844$104,790$549,200$300 pricier homes ($165K more) · larger
Raleigh, NC 27601 69%1,054$71,350$579,500$387 pricier homes ($195K more) · more renters
Atlanta, GA 30312 69%700$82,779$530,600$310 pricier homes ($146K more) · larger
Indianapolis, IN 46250 69%876$67,328$327,600$155 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · less walkable
Wilsonville, OR 97070 69%1,833$97,429$631,400$285 pricier homes ($247K more) · larger · less walkable

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.