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 77033

Houston: median income $38,071, home value $128,900, $139/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indianapolis, IN 46218 91%874$38,063$103,100$94 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32208 86%818$41,324$157,800$124 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Jacksonville, FL 32254 86%815$34,953$110,500$152 smaller · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Memphis, TN 38122 83%493$48,710$123,000$117 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73119 83%418$45,421$100,600$123 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Melvindale, MI 48122 82%1,103$42,185$125,800$118 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Harvey, IL 60426 82%930$42,196$91,000$107 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Pensacola, FL 32505 81%486$44,783$136,500$135 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Hammond, IN 46327 81%935$47,288$142,100$182 smaller · older homes
Kansas City, MO 64129 81%649$51,310$119,400$125 smaller
Detroit, MI 48223 80%1,106$44,512$99,500$88 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73129 80%417$46,670$84,700$120 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Warren, MI 48089 79%1,119$52,366$122,100$123 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43227 78%999$48,159$152,800$155 older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46241 78%863$53,653$130,200$129 7 min shorter commute
Hamtramck, MI 48212 78%1,113$38,186$109,200$140 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Detroit, MI 48219 78%1,108$43,655$99,200$77 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63121 78%687$42,701$95,600$100 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Hamilton, OH 45015 77%907$48,312$120,700$169 smaller · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Flint, MI 48506 77%1,129$47,929$91,900$104 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63134 77%689$44,680$94,700$115 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63137 77%692$43,422$82,900$93 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Tulsa, OK 74115 77%451$44,608$83,800$126 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Kansas City, KS 66102 76%654$52,861$115,600$133 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Columbus, OH 43223 75%993$46,911$131,100$144 7 min shorter commute · more renters · more apartments and townhomes

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.