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 77004

Houston: median income $71,199, home value $412,800, $192/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80231 90%874$76,502$500,600$232 pricier homes ($88K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46250 89%878$67,328$327,600$155 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46240 87%876$75,156$348,000$207 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller · less walkable
Hopkins, MN 55343 87%1,055$83,143$381,500$212 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Durham, NC 27705 86%1,045$73,066$455,000$261 pricier homes ($42K more) · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30329 86%707$76,579$488,300$229 pricier homes ($76K more)
Denver, CO 80237 86%872$85,705$582,500$241 pricier homes ($170K more) · smaller
Raleigh, NC 27606 85%1,052$78,371$457,900$247 pricier homes ($45K more) · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30341 85%710$86,313$463,100$287 pricier homes ($50K more)
Columbus, OH 43220 85%995$74,298$473,500$241 pricier homes ($61K more) · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85014 85%1,015$66,731$476,100$298 pricier homes ($63K more)
Durham, NC 27707 84%1,045$74,406$407,800$249 more single-family homes
Durham, NC 27701 83%1,047$69,740$508,900$346 pricier homes ($96K more)
Marietta, GA 30067 83%702$83,568$445,900$210 pricier homes ($33K more) · less walkable
Tempe, AZ 85282 83%1,006$79,036$412,000$279 Very close on everything we compare
Richmond, VA 23230 82%1,160$74,763$372,900$292 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 82%716$79,309$486,800$210 pricier homes ($74K more) · less walkable
Madison, WI 53704 82%983$74,034$318,400$265 cheaper homes ($94K less) · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55413 82%1,062$85,282$371,600$249 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Overland Park, KS 66214 82%639$83,435$340,900$194 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller
Salt Lake City, UT 84107 82%1,197$72,108$458,300$283 pricier homes ($46K more)
Winooski, VT 05404 81%1,583$79,522$381,500$280 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
State College, PA 16801 81%1,245$61,836$414,600$228 younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Raleigh, NC 27609 81%1,058$83,065$471,200$311 pricier homes ($58K more)
Atlanta, GA 30318 81%700$83,116$430,600$248 larger · newer 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.