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 77013

Houston: median income $47,060, home value $174,400, $118/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oklahoma City, OK 73139 95%409$49,655$176,400$137 Very close on everything we compare
New Orleans, LA 70127 91%315$40,765$204,700$113 pricier homes ($30K more)
Oklahoma City, OK 73127 90%418$44,925$156,700$145 Very close on everything we compare
Morrow, GA 30260 88%692$52,666$205,700$136 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
North Chicago, IL 60064 88%958$49,195$152,200$156 younger residents
Hazelwood, MO 63042 88%681$49,453$149,400$128 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Newport News, VA 23607 86%1,191$42,334$171,800$150 older homes
Asheboro, NC 27203 86%985$46,336$156,300$145 less walkable
Fort Wayne, IN 46816 86%962$45,343$157,700$153 more homeowners · less walkable
Savannah, GA 31408 85%848$45,839$169,700$159 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Columbus, OH 43232 85%989$51,417$172,300$159 larger
Indianapolis, IN 46227 85%856$53,629$210,000$127 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Belle Glade, FL 33430 84%911$46,523$166,400$225 Very close on everything we compare
Lakeland, FL 33801 84%812$53,061$166,800$190 larger
Memphis, TN 38116 84%473$42,183$138,600$90 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Columbus, OH 43213 84%993$54,704$211,700$163 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Kenner, LA 70062 84%299$51,477$200,300$151 pricier homes ($26K more) · more homeowners
Forest Park, GA 30297 83%690$45,124$152,900$124 larger · more single-family homes
Columbus, OH 43223 83%983$46,911$131,100$144 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Euclid, OH 44132 83%1,120$47,969$125,300$128 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older homes
Indianapolis, IN 46224 83%857$55,986$181,600$147 larger
Blue Island, IL 60406 83%922$56,557$175,200$138 older homes
Tulsa, OK 74146 83%439$46,865$145,700$133 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46214 82%857$59,178$201,800$141 pricier homes ($27K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46226 82%866$50,325$158,600$117 larger

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.