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.

Reset

Towns most like Houston, TX 77039

Houston: median income $47,119, home value $165,600, $137/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Wayne, IN 46816 93%958$45,343$157,700$153 Very close on everything we compare
Chalmette, LA 70043 91%322$55,068$214,700$136 pricier homes ($49K more)
Morrow, GA 30260 88%694$52,666$205,700$136 pricier homes ($40K more) · more renters
Hazelwood, MO 63042 86%675$49,453$149,400$128 smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73159 86%400$54,642$159,200$142 6 min shorter commute
Greenville, SC 29611 85%825$51,565$195,700$181 pricier homes ($30K more)
Riverdale, GA 30274 85%690$52,209$174,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
Warren, MI 48091 85%1,103$54,230$149,800$122 Very close on everything we compare
Kenner, LA 70062 85%304$51,477$200,300$151 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Warner Robins, GA 31093 84%715$45,991$157,100$130 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Pensacola, FL 32505 84%484$44,783$136,500$135 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63138 84%680$56,096$139,100$103 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Forest Park, GA 30297 83%692$45,124$152,900$124 more renters
Birmingham, AL 35215 83%569$52,793$157,300$95 larger
Columbus, OH 43223 83%980$46,911$131,100$144 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Indianapolis, IN 46241 83%850$53,653$130,200$129 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Douglas, AZ 85607 83%850$43,351$153,800$162 smaller · less walkable
Clearlake, CA 95422 83%1,669$42,241$217,000$201 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · older residents
Port Richey, FL 34668 82%771$47,401$191,600$183 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older residents
Joliet, IL 60432 82%900$64,917$193,700$177 pricier homes ($28K more)
Park Hills, MO 63601 82%615$54,753$126,300$130 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
New Iberia, LA 70560 82%210$45,509$133,700$115 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Spartanburg, SC 29303 81%856$48,295$159,500$137 7 min shorter commute · more renters · less walkable
Morristown, TN 37813 81%821$48,011$172,600$171 smaller · less walkable
Louisville, KY 40216 81%788$56,441$167,100$150 larger · older 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.