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 77018

Houston: median income $127,017, home value $584,600, $329/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atlanta, GA 30317 92%706$107,955$541,100$351 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Wheaton, IL 60187 90%927$119,769$433,700$321 cheaper homes ($151K less)
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 89%927$137,658$514,300$290 cheaper homes ($70K less) · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97219 88%1,827$121,306$677,900$327 pricier homes ($93K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Elmhurst, IL 60126 86%932$147,566$540,300$360 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · older residents
Denver, CO 80207 86%871$115,542$705,200$390 pricier homes ($121K more) · older homes
Seattle, WA 98155 86%1,888$131,540$816,400$460 pricier homes ($232K more)
Silver Spring, MD 20901 85%1,223$131,386$589,800$337 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Orlando, FL 32804 85%850$113,231$561,000$351 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Columbus, OH 43221 85%991$118,768$446,900$279 cheaper homes ($138K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Salt Lake City, UT 84109 85%1,188$145,034$731,200$343 pricier homes ($147K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Salt Lake City, UT 84124 85%1,187$120,408$746,600$363 pricier homes ($162K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Claremont, CA 91711 85%1,337$126,056$894,300$503 pricier homes ($310K more)
Wayne, NJ 07470 84%1,413$153,056$612,700$382 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Boonton, NJ 07005 83%1,404$132,629$587,100$365 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Haddonfield, NJ 08033 83%1,344$151,181$635,300$384 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · older homes
Falls Church, VA 22042 83%1,210$138,255$715,800$426 pricier homes ($131K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Downers Grove, IL 60515 83%925$123,197$461,200$308 cheaper homes ($123K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 82%1,419$144,574$564,700$462 older homes
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 82%1,339$137,535$471,000$264 cheaper homes ($114K less) · smaller · older residents
Milwaukee, WI 53217 82%1,009$133,021$449,100$277 cheaper homes ($136K less)
New Orleans, LA 70124 82%319$121,228$580,600$257 7 min shorter commute
Littleton, CO 80122 82%863$128,691$634,400$256 pricier homes ($50K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Salt Lake City, UT 84121 82%1,183$115,515$659,900$294 pricier homes ($75K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Henrico, VA 23229 81%1,161$107,854$485,400$303 cheaper homes ($99K less) · 7 min shorter commute · 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.