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 77006

Houston: median income $106,533, home value $614,800, $275/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atlanta, GA 30324 90%706$92,122$502,500$277 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Atlanta, GA 30309 85%704$114,072$432,300$342 cheaper homes ($183K less)
Charlotte, NC 28204 84%928$92,054$585,200$326 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30312 84%703$82,779$530,600$310 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Charlotte, NC 28203 83%926$104,696$707,800$459 pricier homes ($93K more) · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30339 83%702$103,277$465,800$242 cheaper homes ($149K less) · less walkable
Portland, OR 97239 82%1,834$110,134$772,700$321 pricier homes ($158K more) · older residents · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30308 81%704$85,693$390,200$359 cheaper homes ($225K less)
Atlanta, GA 30305 80%705$106,907$737,500$391 pricier homes ($123K more) · more homeowners · less walkable
Orlando, FL 32814 80%852$140,274$754,300$363 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($140K more) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55401 80%1,060$113,522$396,500$318 cheaper homes ($218K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Chicago, IL 60605 80%943$123,922$453,200$334 cheaper homes ($162K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Tampa, FL 33602 78%792$97,320$653,100$431 pricier homes ($38K more)
Chicago, IL 60607 78%943$127,732$499,700$417 cheaper homes ($115K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Charlotte, NC 28202 77%928$105,889$443,500$361 cheaper homes ($171K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Charlotte, NC 28209 77%926$101,873$623,000$446 more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60642 77%944$143,175$593,600$385 higher income ($37K more) · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Portland, OR 97227 76%1,835$93,293$662,000$294 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19123 75%1,343$102,106$539,500$326 cheaper homes ($75K less) · 10 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Chicago, IL 60610 75%945$105,226$505,900$394 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Chicago, IL 60611 75%945$125,675$650,800$394 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Raleigh, NC 27607 74%1,055$96,775$707,800$339 pricier homes ($93K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Orlando, FL 32801 74%850$80,871$428,000$274 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($187K less)
Denver, CO 80202 74%879$114,151$722,700$467 pricier homes ($108K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80237 74%871$85,705$582,500$241 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older 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.