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 77021

Houston: median income $45,574, home value $227,900, $152/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atlanta, GA 30314 93%700$42,089$251,700$191 younger residents
New Orleans, LA 70114 93%320$43,493$206,700$150 Very close on everything we compare
Portsmouth, VA 23704 90%1,203$49,583$230,300$175 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, GA 30311 87%697$50,649$289,100$136 pricier homes ($61K more) · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30315 87%702$50,822$317,700$200 pricier homes ($90K more)
Cocoa, FL 32922 87%887$44,469$217,400$184 smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53209 86%1,014$48,486$166,700$137 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · older homes
Gretna, LA 70053 86%318$39,950$241,300$148 smaller · less walkable
Richmond, VA 23224 83%1,159$50,475$207,500$217 larger
Cincinnati, OH 45237 83%902$44,913$170,600$150 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 5 min shorter commute
New Orleans, LA 70117 83%320$45,764$260,000$162 pricier homes ($32K more) · older homes
Albuquerque, NM 87108 83%752$42,724$243,200$193 9 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15221 82%1,145$55,028$171,300$136 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28208 82%925$55,431$236,300$231 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33605 82%791$36,975$264,400$239 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45211 82%895$53,868$169,500$142 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55103 82%1,062$48,390$257,500$205 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
New Orleans, LA 70127 82%323$40,765$204,700$113 Very close on everything we compare
Waterbury, CT 06705 81%1,492$53,954$202,400$198 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Chesapeake, VA 23324 80%1,205$57,045$251,800$193 Very close on everything we compare
Portsmouth, VA 23707 80%1,201$48,926$230,800$178 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Atlanta, GA 30310 80%700$53,037$340,300$195 pricier homes ($112K more)
Savannah, GA 31404 80%863$53,303$215,500$209 7 min shorter commute
Pensacola, FL 32501 80%489$44,139$287,900$228 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40218 80%808$58,811$205,300$147 7 min shorter commute

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.