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 77047

Houston: median income $78,538, home value $234,300, $148/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbia, SC 29229 97%904$74,043$247,400$147 Very close on everything we compare
Calera, AL 35040 93%562$84,554$232,300$160 smaller
Hampton, GA 30228 91%703$82,619$296,900$142 pricier homes ($63K more)
Mobile, AL 36695 91%433$76,040$254,100$151 larger
Fairburn, GA 30213 90%691$94,125$316,100$154 pricier homes ($82K more)
Crestview, FL 32536 90%530$78,119$305,800$169 pricier homes ($72K more)
Charlotte, NC 28214 89%926$86,447$295,800$203 pricier homes ($62K more)
Mcdonough, GA 30253 89%711$81,892$315,800$144 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger
Slidell, LA 70461 89%341$89,003$273,500$142 pricier homes ($39K more)
Clayton, NC 27520 88%1,067$86,322$320,900$187 pricier homes ($87K more)
Rincon, GA 31326 88%857$83,145$279,300$184 pricier homes ($45K more)
Villa Rica, GA 30180 87%676$88,514$283,500$169 pricier homes ($49K more)
Grovetown, GA 30813 87%819$86,923$287,600$153 pricier homes ($53K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Cabot, AR 72023 87%416$76,931$217,200$148 Very close on everything we compare
Ellenwood, GA 30294 86%707$79,762$260,200$130 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
Crestview, FL 32539 86%537$74,369$286,200$178 pricier homes ($52K more)
Milton, FL 32571 86%495$87,617$306,700$179 pricier homes ($72K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46234 86%871$83,190$241,900$146 7 min shorter commute
Youngsville, LA 70592 86%204$93,204$259,700$160 pricier homes ($25K more) · more homeowners
Zachary, LA 70791 86%263$78,263$268,000$155 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents
Greenbrier, AR 72058 86%425$76,463$231,000$180 smaller
Yukon, OK 73099 86%428$88,030$245,700$168 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Hurricane, WV 25526 85%976$85,176$235,400$157 smaller · older residents · older homes
Elgin, SC 29045 85%909$87,366$266,400$148 pricier homes ($32K more) · more homeowners
Boiling Springs, SC 29316 85%866$74,735$244,900$151 7 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.