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 77024

Houston: median income $136,149, home value $1,127,500, $414/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Englewood, CO 80111 91%862$135,995$916,500$314 cheaper homes ($211K less)
Lake Oswego, OR 97035 91%1,825$130,603$837,100$364 cheaper homes ($290K less)
Falls Church, VA 22043 89%1,218$145,881$881,600$456 cheaper homes ($246K less)
Boulder, CO 80304 86%898$126,558$1,210,200$619 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22046 85%1,218$168,882$1,014,700$476 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28211 85%935$132,917$774,900$360 cheaper homes ($353K less) · younger residents
Decatur, GA 30030 83%714$126,830$631,500$328 cheaper homes ($496K less)
Nashville, TN 37205 83%666$139,152$953,300$403 cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller · older residents
Louisville, CO 80027 83%891$154,232$890,200$358 cheaper homes ($237K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
San Diego, CA 92128 83%1,288$131,077$927,100$597 cheaper homes ($200K less)
Bethesda, MD 20814 82%1,225$150,996$989,600$425 cheaper homes ($138K less) · more renters
Bothell, WA 98011 81%1,883$131,667$933,000$486 cheaper homes ($195K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Florham Park, NJ 07932 80%1,408$156,458$791,100$530 cheaper homes ($336K less) · smaller
Vienna, VA 22180 80%1,215$177,111$941,400$423 higher income ($41K more) · cheaper homes ($186K less)
Miami, FL 33156 80%972$137,076$1,120,100$619 Very close on everything we compare
Denver, CO 80209 80%870$125,733$1,018,300$513 cheaper homes ($109K less) · younger residents · more renters
Irvine, CA 92604 80%1,333$133,869$1,058,000$830 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Kirkland, WA 98034 80%1,882$135,219$946,300$565 cheaper homes ($181K less) · younger residents
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 79%1,221$144,313$715,800$302 cheaper homes ($412K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Issaquah, WA 98027 79%1,866$153,301$996,600$507 cheaper homes ($131K less) · less walkable
Morristown, NJ 07960 78%1,404$160,334$735,600$476 cheaper homes ($392K less) · older homes
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 78%950$111,907$755,100$472 cheaper homes ($372K less)
Atlanta, GA 30307 78%712$140,677$727,200$357 cheaper homes ($400K less) · smaller · younger residents
Nashville, TN 37215 78%667$155,863$1,046,500$413 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Lake Oswego, OR 97034 78%1,824$149,236$1,047,500$444 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · older residents

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.