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 77055

Houston: median income $74,369, home value $624,200, $278/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80226 94%874$82,300$568,300$267 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Charlotte, NC 28205 91%934$75,622$457,200$356 cheaper homes ($167K less)
Longmont, CO 80501 90%899$80,911$488,800$270 cheaper homes ($135K less) · more homeowners
Tempe, AZ 85282 90%997$79,036$412,000$279 cheaper homes ($212K less)
Beaverton, OR 97005 90%1,831$78,239$504,300$299 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85013 89%1,007$71,966$567,700$315 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Tempe, AZ 85283 89%997$84,568$442,800$298 cheaper homes ($181K less)
Arvada, CO 80002 88%879$93,362$558,500$322 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80214 88%875$75,575$559,100$387 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Salt Lake City, UT 84107 88%1,188$72,108$458,300$283 cheaper homes ($166K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Phoenix, AZ 85022 88%1,007$69,927$425,200$290 cheaper homes ($199K less)
Sacramento, CA 95826 88%1,591$82,127$463,300$320 cheaper homes ($161K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 87%821$74,402$414,900$260 cheaper homes ($209K less) · smaller
Reno, NV 89503 87%1,532$66,743$467,200$298 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller
Englewood, CO 80110 86%868$85,900$497,300$284 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller
Portland, OR 97222 86%1,821$83,119$490,900$316 cheaper homes ($133K less) · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85016 85%1,004$87,850$564,900$363 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Loma Linda, CA 92354 85%1,307$83,847$564,400$356 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Vancouver, WA 98661 85%1,828$76,913$451,500$289 cheaper homes ($173K less)
Atlanta, GA 30341 84%715$86,313$463,100$287 cheaper homes ($161K less)
Miami, FL 33166 84%968$81,581$530,300$453 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 84%877$89,627$609,800$331 smaller · older residents
Denver, CO 80215 84%876$85,190$650,100$298 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Midvale, UT 84047 84%1,186$75,954$434,300$264 cheaper homes ($190K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85014 84%1,006$66,731$476,100$298 cheaper homes ($148K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes

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.