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 77025

Houston: median income $81,008, home value $586,600, $215/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80237 88%872$85,705$582,500$241 Very close on everything we compare
Durham, NC 27705 87%1,050$73,066$455,000$261 cheaper homes ($132K less) · larger
Raleigh, NC 27609 86%1,063$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Raleigh, NC 27612 85%1,060$95,988$529,000$261 cheaper homes ($58K less) · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43220 85%1,000$74,298$473,500$241 cheaper homes ($113K less) · older homes
Towson, MD 21204 84%1,261$99,606$594,800$261 younger residents · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30324 83%710$92,122$502,500$277 cheaper homes ($84K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 81%721$79,309$486,800$210 cheaper homes ($100K less) · less walkable
Middleton, WI 53562 81%983$101,381$532,200$270 cheaper homes ($54K less) · more homeowners
Madison, WI 53717 81%981$98,180$415,100$240 cheaper homes ($172K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Raleigh, NC 27606 80%1,057$78,371$457,900$247 cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger · younger residents
Smyrna, GA 30080 80%704$91,957$450,400$227 cheaper homes ($136K less) · larger · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30350 80%715$88,118$516,000$194 cheaper homes ($71K less) · less walkable
Nashville, TN 37209 80%668$81,423$529,800$333 cheaper homes ($57K less) · younger residents
Indianapolis, IN 46240 80%881$75,156$348,000$207 cheaper homes ($239K less) · smaller
Overland Park, KS 66210 80%640$95,636$373,200$185 cheaper homes ($213K less)
Atlanta, GA 30318 79%705$83,116$430,600$248 cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30328 79%711$112,111$561,900$236 higher income ($31K more) · more homeowners
Atlanta, GA 30341 79%715$86,313$463,100$287 cheaper homes ($124K less) · younger residents
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 79%1,085$89,355$406,700$234 cheaper homes ($180K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
State College, PA 16803 78%1,249$73,532$413,700$195 cheaper homes ($173K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97239 78%1,834$110,134$772,700$321 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($186K more) · smaller
Durham, NC 27707 77%1,050$74,406$407,800$249 cheaper homes ($179K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30312 77%707$82,779$530,600$310 cheaper homes ($56K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Gainesville, FL 32606 77%782$87,953$347,800$189 cheaper homes ($239K less) · 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.