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 77051

Houston: median income $37,415, home value $185,500, $175/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Union City, GA 30291 78%691$48,184$222,000$139 pricier homes ($37K more)
Las Vegas, NV 89106 78%1,230$42,007$290,000$240 pricier homes ($105K more) · older homes
Charleston, SC 29406 77%932$49,815$229,300$209 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
New Orleans, LA 70127 77%324$40,765$204,700$113 older residents · older homes
Firebaugh, CA 93622 76%1,528$48,021$244,400$235 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller
Morrow, GA 30260 74%704$52,666$205,700$136 older homes
Riverdale, GA 30274 73%699$52,209$174,300$133 larger · less walkable · older homes
Belle Glade, FL 33430 73%918$46,523$166,400$225 more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Ocala, FL 34475 73%795$30,174$222,000$161 pricier homes ($37K more) · 8 min shorter commute · older homes
Orlando, FL 32808 72%844$49,700$239,200$198 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · older homes
Asheboro, NC 27203 71%997$46,336$156,300$145 cheaper homes ($29K less) · less walkable · older homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46816 71%974$45,343$157,700$153 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 70%525$48,932$197,500$170 less walkable · older homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73139 70%415$49,655$176,400$137 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Tallahassee, FL 32310 69%662$38,288$132,200$153 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Homestead, FL 33034 69%952$47,170$339,300$250 pricier homes ($154K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Tampa, FL 33610 69%793$54,209$227,400$229 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · older homes
Columbus, OH 43219 69%1,004$52,094$199,200$163 larger · 8 min shorter commute · older homes
Donaldsonville, LA 70346 69%264$35,280$176,900$131 smaller · more homeowners · less walkable
Orange Cove, CA 93646 69%1,462$50,847$258,900$253 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller · younger residents
Norcross, GA 30093 68%719$48,404$265,700$178 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · more renters
Knoxville, TN 37912 68%793$47,416$210,900$221 pricier homes ($25K more) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Fresno, CA 93706 68%1,499$40,930$240,000$219 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Charlotte, NC 28212 67%933$52,723$266,900$195 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Spartanburg, SC 29306 67%864$41,356$177,500$152 6 min shorter commute · less walkable · older homes

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.