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 77007

Houston: median income $144,911, home value $549,100, $237/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atlanta, GA 30319 76%708$130,648$762,500$301 pricier homes ($213K more) · less walkable · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30309 74%704$114,072$432,300$342 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($117K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Orlando, FL 32814 72%853$140,274$754,300$363 pricier homes ($205K more) · smaller
Herndon, VA 20171 71%1,203$171,372$797,200$331 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($248K more) · less walkable
Chicago, IL 60605 71%942$123,922$453,200$334 cheaper homes ($96K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Rockville, MD 20850 68%1,219$125,950$714,400$331 pricier homes ($165K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Fairfax, VA 22030 67%1,204$139,831$740,400$347 pricier homes ($191K more) · less walkable · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30324 67%706$92,122$502,500$277 lower income ($53K less) · cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30342 67%706$124,111$829,400$318 pricier homes ($280K more) · less walkable · older homes
Morrisville, NC 27560 66%1,047$118,417$508,200$225 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($41K less) · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30328 66%707$112,111$561,900$236 lower income ($33K less) · less walkable · older homes
Chicago, IL 60607 66%941$127,732$499,700$417 cheaper homes ($49K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Portland, OR 97239 65%1,832$110,134$772,700$321 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($224K more) · smaller
Rockville, MD 20852 64%1,220$122,472$665,200$359 pricier homes ($116K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30305 64%705$106,907$737,500$391 lower income ($38K less) · pricier homes ($188K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30338 64%711$135,148$611,300$249 pricier homes ($62K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Exton, PA 19341 63%1,321$121,680$509,300$249 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · less walkable
Columbia, MD 21044 63%1,237$135,057$566,500$250 older residents · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Fairfax, VA 22031 63%1,207$134,577$723,600$356 pricier homes ($175K more) · less walkable · older homes
Overland Park, KS 66223 63%629$114,855$437,500$186 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller
Lone Tree, CO 80124 63%863$129,858$773,900$272 pricier homes ($225K more) · smaller · older residents
Fairfax, VA 22033 62%1,202$143,454$648,800$355 pricier homes ($100K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Raleigh, NC 27607 62%1,055$96,775$707,800$339 lower income ($48K less) · pricier homes ($159K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30339 62%701$103,277$465,800$242 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($83K less) · more renters
Dublin, OH 43016 62%993$109,972$452,000$211 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($97K less) · 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.