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 77042

Houston: median income $59,097, home value $411,800, $202/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chicago, IL 60612 87%947$60,922$364,600$292 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older homes
Denver, CO 80247 87%867$64,498$318,400$223 cheaper homes ($93K less) · more homeowners
Sacramento, CA 95825 84%1,592$64,602$440,200$292 pricier homes ($28K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19122 83%1,351$63,676$349,800$247 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · younger residents
Miami, FL 33181 83%977$63,275$352,500$295 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · older homes
Denver, CO 80231 82%866$76,502$500,600$232 pricier homes ($89K more) · more homeowners
Kissimmee, FL 34741 81%859$52,409$306,400$190 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30329 79%717$76,579$488,300$229 pricier homes ($77K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Newark, NJ 07103 78%1,419$51,534$318,800$235 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 77%969$66,100$383,400$347 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more homeowners
Yonkers, NY 10701 76%1,441$64,776$370,400$306 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · older homes
Chicago, IL 60653 76%945$40,666$361,000$197 cheaper homes ($51K less) · older homes
Dania, FL 33004 75%974$52,574$342,400$258 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85021 75%1,006$59,768$470,400$321 pricier homes ($59K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Newark, NJ 07104 74%1,421$53,978$388,800$219 older homes
Charlotte, NC 28217 74%932$64,028$263,300$233 cheaper homes ($149K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Orlando, FL 32821 74%856$69,348$309,600$212 cheaper homes ($102K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55403 74%1,059$60,873$298,500$215 cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60616 74%946$73,819$387,200$318 more homeowners · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85014 74%1,004$66,731$476,100$298 pricier homes ($64K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85015 74%1,006$54,874$345,000$247 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older homes
Tampa, FL 33613 73%801$44,032$272,700$233 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Nashville, TN 37217 73%678$62,796$317,400$193 cheaper homes ($94K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55425 73%1,051$76,274$339,500$209 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Mesa, AZ 85201 73%991$67,294$328,800$252 cheaper homes ($83K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners

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.