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 77029

Houston: median income $48,279, home value $135,100, $144/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hamilton, OH 45015 91%899$48,312$120,700$169 5 min shorter commute
Hammond, IN 46327 91%927$47,288$142,100$182 smaller
Fort Wayne, IN 46809 91%962$52,253$133,100$156 smaller
Kansas City, MO 64129 89%642$51,310$119,400$125 smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32208 87%812$41,324$157,800$124 larger
Flint, MI 48506 87%1,121$47,929$91,900$104 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Louisville, KY 40216 86%793$56,441$167,100$150 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Independence, MO 64052 86%645$59,007$150,600$139 5 min shorter commute
Columbus, OH 43227 84%991$48,159$152,800$155 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Cleveland, OH 44125 84%1,109$57,363$116,500$127 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Cleveland, OH 44135 84%1,103$53,848$132,800$154 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Maple Heights, OH 44137 84%1,111$53,918$98,100$126 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Warren, MI 48089 84%1,111$52,366$122,100$123 larger · less walkable
Mount Morris, MI 48458 84%1,122$46,797$95,600$113 cheaper homes ($40K less) · less walkable
Dolton, IL 60419 84%925$57,887$151,300$138 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, KS 66104 84%649$61,338$141,500$144 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Hammond, IN 46324 83%924$63,052$158,800$147 Very close on everything we compare
Joliet, IL 60433 83%906$66,515$172,300$173 pricier homes ($37K more)
Warren, MI 48091 82%1,108$54,230$149,800$122 larger · less walkable
Lincoln Park, MI 48146 82%1,093$58,616$131,000$130 larger · less walkable
Bradley, IL 60915 82%889$60,563$156,700$176 smaller · less walkable
Connellsville, PA 15425 81%1,135$53,160$145,000$111 older residents · less walkable
Toledo, OH 43611 81%1,054$62,042$132,000$145 8 min shorter commute
Lake Station, IN 46405 81%930$60,881$139,200$139 less walkable
Sioux City, IA 51103 81%883$58,197$142,900$138 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.