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.

Reset

Towns most like Houston, TX 77019

Houston: median income $116,423, home value $816,500, $298/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Orlando, FL 32814 89%853$140,274$754,300$363 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Portland, OR 97239 87%1,833$110,134$772,700$321 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30305 85%705$106,907$737,500$391 cheaper homes ($79K less) · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28203 81%927$104,696$707,800$459 cheaper homes ($109K less) · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30324 81%707$92,122$502,500$277 cheaper homes ($314K less)
Denver, CO 80230 80%873$99,750$829,000$324 smaller · older residents
Charlotte, NC 28209 78%926$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($194K less) · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30309 77%704$114,072$432,300$342 cheaper homes ($384K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 77%965$124,812$884,800$542 pricier homes ($68K more)
Charlotte, NC 28204 76%929$92,054$585,200$326 cheaper homes ($231K less) · smaller · younger residents
Tampa, FL 33602 76%793$97,320$653,100$431 cheaper homes ($163K less)
Seattle, WA 98107 76%1,892$142,662$953,400$553 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($137K more) · 7 min longer commute
Rockville, MD 20852 75%1,221$122,472$665,200$359 cheaper homes ($151K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22203 75%1,216$140,135$826,800$511 6 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30312 75%704$82,779$530,600$310 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($286K less)
Atlanta, GA 30342 75%707$124,111$829,400$318 more homeowners · less walkable
Tampa, FL 33606 75%793$120,729$845,600$551 pricier homes ($29K more) · younger residents · older homes
Portland, OR 97227 75%1,833$93,293$662,000$294 cheaper homes ($155K less) · smaller
Rockville, MD 20850 74%1,220$125,950$714,400$331 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30339 74%702$103,277$465,800$242 cheaper homes ($351K less)
Chicago, IL 60642 74%944$143,175$593,600$385 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($223K less) · 6 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98122 74%1,887$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($141K more) · larger · older homes
Raleigh, NC 27607 73%1,055$96,775$707,800$339 cheaper homes ($109K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30319 73%709$130,648$762,500$301 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60611 72%945$125,675$650,800$394 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes

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.