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 77017

Houston: median income $51,079, home value $158,300, $146/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43223 94%989$46,911$131,100$144 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Columbus, OH 43227 92%995$48,159$152,800$155 Very close on everything we compare
Kenner, LA 70062 92%301$51,477$200,300$151 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43224 91%997$53,321$170,800$177 Very close on everything we compare
Milwaukee, WI 53218 91%1,011$45,642$133,400$139 Very close on everything we compare
Pensacola, FL 32505 90%481$44,783$136,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
Indianapolis, IN 46241 90%860$53,653$130,200$129 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63138 90%692$56,096$139,100$103 smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73159 90%416$54,642$159,200$142 Very close on everything we compare
Hazelwood, MO 63042 89%687$49,453$149,400$128 smaller
Saint Ann, MO 63074 89%683$51,610$132,700$153 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73110 89%418$51,228$126,100$130 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73139 89%415$49,655$176,400$137 smaller · newer homes
Louisville, KY 40214 88%798$54,931$184,600$146 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Dayton, OH 45439 88%932$52,035$143,300$150 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Joliet, IL 60432 88%912$64,917$193,700$177 pricier homes ($35K more)
Joliet, IL 60436 88%907$62,961$180,800$182 smaller
Kansas City, KS 66102 88%652$52,861$115,600$133 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Pleasantville, NJ 08232 87%1,353$53,899$195,000$215 pricier homes ($37K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Portsmouth, VA 23702 87%1,196$48,835$208,000$184 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller
Morrow, GA 30260 87%697$52,666$205,700$136 pricier homes ($47K more) · newer homes
Jacksonville, FL 32211 87%818$57,021$229,700$179 pricier homes ($71K more)
Cincinnati, OH 45211 87%891$53,868$169,500$142 Very close on everything we compare
Indianapolis, IN 46222 87%865$50,783$116,300$107 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Indianapolis, IN 46226 87%872$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.