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 77067

Houston: median income $52,032, home value $186,200, $113/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Riverdale, GA 30274 93%695$52,209$174,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
Morrow, GA 30260 92%700$52,666$205,700$136 5 min shorter commute
Stone Mountain, GA 30083 86%711$55,307$242,000$146 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Indianapolis, IN 46235 86%868$58,951$185,800$133 Very close on everything we compare
New Orleans, LA 70127 85%328$40,765$204,700$113 Very close on everything we compare
Orlando, FL 32808 83%849$49,700$239,200$198 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Hazelwood, MO 63042 83%675$49,453$149,400$128 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · older homes
Chalmette, LA 70043 83%329$55,068$214,700$136 pricier homes ($29K more) · more homeowners
Forest Park, GA 30297 82%697$45,124$152,900$124 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older homes
Indianapolis, IN 46214 82%854$59,178$201,800$141 8 min shorter commute
Fort Wayne, IN 46816 82%959$45,343$157,700$153 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46227 81%854$53,629$210,000$127 larger · 8 min shorter commute · older homes
Asheboro, NC 27203 80%991$46,336$156,300$145 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Birmingham, AL 35215 80%573$52,793$157,300$95 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Gretna, LA 70056 79%325$59,027$230,500$137 pricier homes ($44K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73139 79%394$49,655$176,400$137 smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Charlotte, NC 28212 78%928$52,723$266,900$195 pricier homes ($81K more)
Union City, GA 30291 78%687$48,184$222,000$139 pricier homes ($36K more) · newer homes
Lakeland, FL 33801 78%827$53,061$166,800$190 7 min shorter commute
Radcliff, KY 40160 78%770$58,506$165,900$142 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63138 78%680$56,096$139,100$103 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73132 78%407$60,419$213,500$131 pricier homes ($27K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Avenal, CA 93204 78%1,485$55,079$228,900$190 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Spartanburg, SC 29303 77%861$48,295$159,500$137 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 10 min shorter commute · less walkable
Greenville, SC 29611 77%830$51,565$195,700$181 6 min shorter commute · more single-family 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.