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 77011

Houston: median income $50,133, home value $209,300, $179/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Summit Argo, IL 60501 85%931$63,244$234,300$215 pricier homes ($25K more)
Independence, MO 64050 85%648$48,834$145,300$156 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Portsmouth, VA 23707 84%1,197$48,926$230,800$178 5 min shorter commute
Hampton, VA 23663 82%1,203$54,336$202,300$191 newer homes
Portsmouth, VA 23702 82%1,197$48,835$208,000$184 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Broadview, IL 60155 82%935$64,566$252,200$240 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Joliet, IL 60436 82%905$62,961$180,800$182 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Pleasantville, NJ 08232 81%1,353$53,899$195,000$215 younger residents · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Jacksonville, FL 32206 81%817$39,242$173,400$134 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Cocoa, FL 32922 81%884$44,469$217,400$184 newer homes
Columbus, OH 43227 81%994$48,159$152,800$155 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · less walkable
Tucson, AZ 85714 81%942$55,000$203,600$194 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Orlando, FL 32805 80%843$40,515$238,800$223 pricier homes ($30K more) · newer homes
Racine, WI 53403 80%988$59,820$176,000$188 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Penns Grove, NJ 08069 79%1,316$71,942$198,100$200 Very close on everything we compare
Westville, NJ 08093 79%1,336$64,104$213,200$232 smaller · newer homes
Lynchburg, VA 24504 79%1,072$52,571$179,700$124 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Panama City, FL 32401 79%579$52,523$230,500$197 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Hammond, IN 46327 79%930$47,288$142,100$182 cheaper homes ($67K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Kenner, LA 70062 79%304$51,477$200,300$151 younger residents · newer homes
Fresno, CA 93728 79%1,492$62,986$274,200$221 pricier homes ($65K more) · younger residents
Aberdeen, WA 98520 79%1,931$58,153$250,800$169 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Waterbury, CT 06705 78%1,488$53,954$202,400$198 larger · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46809 78%964$52,253$133,100$156 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Independence, MO 64052 78%647$59,007$150,600$139 cheaper homes ($59K less)

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.