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 77061

Houston: median income $45,115, home value $224,400, $95/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Orleans, LA 70127 88%319$40,765$204,700$113 Very close on everything we compare
Indianapolis, IN 46227 82%864$53,629$210,000$127 larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73139 82%416$49,655$176,400$137 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Newport News, VA 23607 81%1,198$42,334$171,800$150 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Memphis, TN 38116 81%481$42,183$138,600$90 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46224 81%866$55,986$181,600$147 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73127 81%425$44,925$156,700$145 cheaper homes ($68K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Columbus, OH 43213 80%1,001$54,704$211,700$163 larger · 6 min shorter commute
New Orleans, LA 70114 80%315$43,493$206,700$150 older residents
Hartford, CT 06112 79%1,511$44,460$208,000$144 older homes
Portsmouth, VA 23704 79%1,200$49,583$230,300$175 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia, SC 29210 79%884$50,871$194,400$118 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33313 79%951$46,305$256,100$169 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Milwaukee, WI 53225 79%1,012$56,545$188,400$163 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Blue Island, IL 60406 79%931$56,557$175,200$138 cheaper homes ($49K less) · more homeowners
Gretna, LA 70053 79%314$39,950$241,300$148 more single-family homes
Morrow, GA 30260 78%699$52,666$205,700$136 more single-family homes
North Chicago, IL 60064 78%967$49,195$152,200$156 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · younger residents
Hazelwood, MO 63042 78%689$49,453$149,400$128 cheaper homes ($75K less) · more homeowners
Norfolk, VA 23523 77%1,202$35,533$224,600$153 smaller
Forest Park, GA 30297 76%697$45,124$152,900$124 cheaper homes ($72K less) · more single-family homes
Indianapolis, IN 46226 76%874$50,325$158,600$117 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Milwaukee, WI 53209 76%1,014$48,486$166,700$137 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · older homes
New Orleans, LA 70126 76%315$41,709$191,600$101 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Waterbury, CT 06706 75%1,488$52,242$210,700$188 smaller · 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.