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 77008

Houston: median income $143,229, home value $642,600, $296/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Louisville, CO 80027 85%893$154,232$890,200$358 pricier homes ($248K more)
Portland, OR 97229 85%1,837$161,570$782,100$309 pricier homes ($140K more) · larger
Lafayette, CO 80026 84%892$120,187$705,600$310 pricier homes ($63K more)
Atlanta, GA 30319 83%708$130,648$762,500$301 pricier homes ($120K more) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30338 82%711$135,148$611,300$249 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older homes
Littleton, CO 80129 81%865$141,667$663,800$266 older residents · less walkable
Herndon, VA 20171 80%1,202$171,372$797,200$331 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($155K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Fairfax, VA 22030 79%1,203$139,831$740,400$347 pricier homes ($98K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Cary, NC 27513 79%1,048$121,989$519,800$258 cheaper homes ($123K less) · older residents · less walkable
Lone Tree, CO 80124 78%861$129,858$773,900$272 pricier homes ($131K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80238 78%875$180,940$832,200$295 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($190K more)
Davis, CA 95618 78%1,615$115,591$867,400$483 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($225K more) · smaller
Herndon, VA 20170 77%1,205$159,466$647,200$326 older homes
Decatur, GA 30030 77%708$126,830$631,500$328 older homes
Apex, NC 27523 76%1,044$135,625$659,300$252 smaller · more homeowners · less walkable
Charlotte, NC 28277 76%924$128,627$560,600$269 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · less walkable
Charlotte, NC 28211 75%928$132,917$774,900$360 pricier homes ($132K more) · less walkable · older homes
Englewood, CO 80111 75%864$135,995$916,500$314 pricier homes ($274K more) · older residents · less walkable
Alpharetta, GA 30009 74%715$126,510$640,500$317 smaller · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Carmel, IN 46032 74%877$132,085$496,800$218 cheaper homes ($146K less) · less walkable
Fort Collins, CO 80528 74%915$130,350$705,000$246 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Folsom, CA 95630 74%1,586$139,642$755,200$382 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger · older residents
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 73%1,215$144,313$715,800$302 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · older residents
Alpharetta, GA 30004 73%716$156,100$657,700$249 larger · more homeowners · less walkable
Decatur, GA 30033 73%709$111,616$455,300$265 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($187K 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.