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 77056

Houston: median income $93,499, home value $860,900, $293/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80230 84%872$99,750$829,000$324 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97239 81%1,830$110,134$772,700$321 cheaper homes ($88K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30312 78%707$82,779$530,600$310 cheaper homes ($330K less) · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30324 77%710$92,122$502,500$277 cheaper homes ($358K less) · younger residents
Portland, OR 97227 77%1,831$93,293$662,000$294 cheaper homes ($199K less) · smaller · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30305 76%709$106,907$737,500$391 cheaper homes ($123K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Tampa, FL 33602 76%796$97,320$653,100$431 cheaper homes ($208K less) · younger residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 74%968$124,812$884,800$542 higher income ($31K more)
Greenville, SC 29601 73%839$76,136$659,000$414 cheaper homes ($202K less) · smaller
Portland, OR 97209 73%1,831$80,301$587,300$343 cheaper homes ($274K less) · younger residents · more renters
Phoenix, AZ 85012 72%1,009$86,620$735,000$370 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller · younger residents
Charlotte, NC 28204 71%932$92,054$585,200$326 cheaper homes ($276K less) · smaller · younger residents
Orlando, FL 32814 71%857$140,274$754,300$363 higher income ($47K more) · cheaper homes ($107K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80237 71%868$85,705$582,500$241 cheaper homes ($278K less) · younger residents · older homes
Orlando, FL 32801 70%854$80,871$428,000$274 cheaper homes ($433K less) · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30339 69%706$103,277$465,800$242 cheaper homes ($395K less) · larger · younger residents
Denver, CO 80202 69%877$114,151$722,700$467 cheaper homes ($138K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Portland, OR 97201 69%1,830$63,250$673,600$303 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($187K less) · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98122 69%1,885$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger · younger residents
Rockville, MD 20852 68%1,224$122,472$665,200$359 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger
Portland, OR 97232 68%1,829$70,895$781,200$326 cheaper homes ($80K less) · younger residents · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19123 67%1,346$102,106$539,500$326 cheaper homes ($321K less) · younger residents · 9 min longer commute
Boulder, CO 80301 67%900$95,207$793,200$376 cheaper homes ($68K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Rockville, MD 20850 66%1,223$125,950$714,400$331 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28203 66%930$104,696$707,800$459 cheaper homes ($153K less) · younger residents

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.