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 77050

Houston: median income $37,009, home value $112,600, $86/sq ft, 48-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Crenshaw, MS 38621 68%434$36,685$91,600$85 smaller · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Nelsonville, OH 45764 66%991$51,806$126,100$142 older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Foxworth, MS 39483 65%332$36,992$80,600$96 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Durant, MS 39063 63%388$30,967$80,400$91 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · older residents
Cottonport, LA 71327 63%206$31,953$95,800$75 older residents · 13 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Mount Union, PA 17066 59%1,218$50,765$122,600$100 older residents · 10 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Glenmora, LA 71433 59%177$46,023$174,900$121 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller · older residents
Simmesport, LA 71369 58%219$36,856$107,600— smaller · older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Dungannon, VA 24245 57%878$36,008$109,400$77 smaller · older residents · 11 min shorter commute
Twelve Mile, IN 46988 56%912$44,792$165,500$68 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Hessmer, LA 71341 56%203$50,029$124,800$103 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Marksville, LA 71351 56%209$46,378$152,900$89 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · older residents
Shiprock, NM 87420 56%905$36,335$103,900— larger · older residents · 16 min shorter commute
Branchland, WV 25506 55%941$44,013$94,000$59 older residents · 13 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Tchula, MS 39169 55%372$36,231$48,200$102 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Whitley City, KY 42653 55%782$42,656$109,200$158 smaller · older residents · 10 min shorter commute
West Union, OH 45693 55%908$43,977$181,800$127 pricier homes ($69K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Chattahoochee, FL 32324 54%626$40,164$82,400$87 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents · 12 min shorter commute
Vanceburg, KY 41179 54%905$39,217$95,400$108 older residents · 10 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Beattyville, KY 41311 54%850$39,158$84,300$71 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Eutawville, SC 29048 53%912$41,774$110,000$145 older residents · more homeowners · newer homes
Fairfax, SC 29827 53%853$40,844$66,600$74 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · older residents
Glenwood, GA 30428 53%762$49,441$75,200$97 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · 13 min shorter commute
Trezevant, TN 38258 53%573$50,921$100,400$128 smaller · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Pirtleville, AZ 85626 53%854$49,519$93,800— smaller · 9 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.