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 77027

Houston: median income $103,812, home value $859,500, $362/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlotte, NC 28203 88%929$104,696$707,800$459 cheaper homes ($152K less) · younger residents
Tampa, FL 33602 87%795$97,320$653,100$431 cheaper homes ($206K less)
Charlotte, NC 28204 83%931$92,054$585,200$326 cheaper homes ($274K less) · smaller · younger residents
Orlando, FL 32814 83%855$140,274$754,300$363 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80202 83%878$114,151$722,700$467 cheaper homes ($137K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98122 80%1,886$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · older homes
Portland, OR 97227 79%1,832$93,293$662,000$294 cheaper homes ($198K less) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30305 78%708$106,907$737,500$391 cheaper homes ($122K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 78%967$124,812$884,800$542 pricier homes ($25K more) · 6 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30312 77%706$82,779$530,600$310 cheaper homes ($329K less) · 6 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30324 77%709$92,122$502,500$277 cheaper homes ($357K less) · 6 min longer commute
Portland, OR 97239 77%1,831$110,134$772,700$321 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55415 76%1,059$124,921$625,500$406 cheaper homes ($234K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22203 75%1,218$140,135$826,800$511 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($33K less) · 8 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28202 74%931$105,889$443,500$361 cheaper homes ($416K less) · younger residents
Portland, OR 97209 74%1,832$80,301$587,300$343 cheaper homes ($272K less) · more walkable
Seattle, WA 98109 74%1,889$133,663$1,034,100$649 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($175K more) · larger
Miami, FL 33131 73%972$144,138$655,100$622 higher income ($40K more) · cheaper homes ($204K less)
Miami, FL 33132 73%972$109,109$524,300$550 cheaper homes ($335K less)
Denver, CO 80230 73%873$99,750$829,000$324 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · older residents
Arlington, VA 22202 72%1,221$133,762$899,000$453 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($40K more) · 7 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28209 72%929$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($237K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30309 72%707$114,072$432,300$342 cheaper homes ($427K less) · larger · more homeowners
Atlanta, GA 30339 72%705$103,277$465,800$242 cheaper homes ($394K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Tampa, FL 33606 72%795$120,729$845,600$551 younger residents · more homeowners · older homes

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.