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 77023

Houston: median income $51,430, home value $302,300, $188/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Portsmouth, VA 23707 92%1,198$48,926$230,800$178 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller
Tucson, AZ 85711 91%937$56,121$280,300$213 larger
Chesapeake, VA 23324 89%1,202$57,045$251,800$193 cheaper homes ($51K less) · newer homes
Norfolk, VA 23502 89%1,205$63,208$266,200$209 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Portsmouth, VA 23704 89%1,200$49,583$230,300$175 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Savannah, GA 31404 89%861$53,303$215,500$209 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Pensacola, FL 32501 89%486$44,139$287,900$228 smaller
Atlanta, GA 30310 88%697$53,037$340,300$195 pricier homes ($38K more)
Cocoa, FL 32922 88%885$44,469$217,400$184 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
New Orleans, LA 70117 88%317$45,764$260,000$162 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Fresno, CA 93728 88%1,492$62,986$274,200$221 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32211 87%822$57,021$229,700$179 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Knoxville, TN 37917 87%790$54,423$219,200$227 cheaper homes ($83K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33604 86%787$58,766$311,900$275 larger
Saint Paul, MN 55103 86%1,060$48,390$257,500$205 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Colorado Springs, CO 80909 86%829$64,035$386,200$192 pricier homes ($84K more)
Fresno, CA 93705 86%1,493$57,003$305,000$254 larger · younger residents
Spokane, WA 99207 86%1,707$60,452$274,100$185 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Chicopee, MA 01013 85%1,526$59,759$271,900$234 cheaper homes ($30K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Waterbury, CT 06705 85%1,489$53,954$202,400$198 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32205 85%814$64,789$291,900$210 Very close on everything we compare
Clearwater, FL 33755 85%768$62,886$328,700$264 pricier homes ($26K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55411 85%1,061$60,225$245,400$145 cheaper homes ($57K less) · younger residents · older homes
East Hartford, CT 06108 84%1,514$56,663$230,500$205 cheaper homes ($72K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Richmond, VA 23222 84%1,160$61,345$274,800$218 cheaper homes ($28K less)

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.