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 77031

Houston: median income $47,162, home value $232,500, $131/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Orleans, LA 70127 92%335$40,765$204,700$113 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Cocoa, FL 32922 88%898$44,469$217,400$184 Very close on everything we compare
New Orleans, LA 70114 88%331$43,493$206,700$150 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Hazelwood, MO 63042 87%696$49,453$149,400$128 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Gretna, LA 70053 87%330$39,950$241,300$148 older homes
Waterbury, CT 06705 86%1,502$53,954$202,400$198 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73139 86%412$49,655$176,400$137 cheaper homes ($56K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Portsmouth, VA 23704 85%1,214$49,583$230,300$175 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30311 85%708$50,649$289,100$136 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Indianapolis, IN 46214 85%874$59,178$201,800$141 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Blue Island, IL 60406 85%938$56,557$175,200$138 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · older homes
Kenner, LA 70062 85%318$51,477$200,300$151 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Morrow, GA 30260 84%713$52,666$205,700$136 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30315 84%713$50,822$317,700$200 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger
New Orleans, LA 70126 84%330$41,709$191,600$101 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30354 83%711$63,189$273,700$199 pricier homes ($41K more)
Fort Myers, FL 33901 83%858$51,816$302,500$200 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · older residents
Columbus, OH 43213 83%1,012$54,704$211,700$163 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Chesapeake, VA 23324 82%1,216$57,045$251,800$193 larger
Charlotte, NC 28212 82%943$52,723$266,900$195 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Stone Mountain, GA 30083 82%725$55,307$242,000$146 larger
Daytona Beach, FL 32117 82%871$56,419$191,500$175 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53223 82%1,022$60,839$203,100$156 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Kansas City, KS 66112 82%655$62,313$199,700$159 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30314 81%712$42,089$251,700$191 larger · younger 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.