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 77037

Houston: median income $58,750, home value $158,000, $142/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Joliet, IL 60432 91%903$64,917$193,700$177 pricier homes ($36K more)
Zion, IL 60099 90%963$66,109$196,700$187 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Chalmette, LA 70043 90%325$55,068$214,700$136 pricier homes ($57K more)
Warren, MI 48091 88%1,106$54,230$149,800$122 larger · older residents
Joliet, IL 60436 88%898$62,961$180,800$182 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeton, NJ 08302 87%1,319$65,516$202,200$181 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Park Hills, MO 63601 87%618$54,753$126,300$130 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73159 87%400$54,642$159,200$142 larger
Indianapolis, IN 46221 86%857$65,280$191,300$149 pricier homes ($33K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46241 86%853$53,653$130,200$129 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63138 86%683$56,096$139,100$103 more renters
Fairdale, KY 40118 85%791$59,316$156,800$166 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Louisville, KY 40216 85%792$56,441$167,100$150 larger · older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46816 85%961$45,343$157,700$153 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64129 85%634$51,310$119,400$125 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Hobbs, NM 88240 85%497$63,270$186,900$148 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45239 84%889$60,324$171,100$154 larger
Dayton, OH 45439 84%927$52,035$143,300$150 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Independence, MO 64056 84%640$67,685$198,400$160 pricier homes ($40K more) · more single-family homes
Kenner, LA 70062 84%308$51,477$200,300$151 pricier homes ($42K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46229 83%867$61,388$191,100$137 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents
Hammond, IN 46323 83%922$59,688$166,400$138 Very close on everything we compare
Bradley, IL 60915 83%885$60,563$156,700$176 smaller · more single-family homes
Wichita, KS 67217 83%546$55,565$121,100$123 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Tulsa, OK 74107 83%431$53,505$135,600$145 6 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.