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.

Reset

Towns most like Houston, TX 77068

Houston: median income $86,028, home value $328,600, $120/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dundee, MI 48131 87%1,056$85,747$274,200$164 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · less walkable
Palmetto, GA 30268 86%680$91,349$305,900$167 older residents
Destrehan, LA 70047 86%306$87,333$305,300$151 older residents
Stone Mountain, GA 30088 85%712$70,325$238,700$134 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Lebanon, IL 62254 85%677$96,492$218,000$127 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Blue Springs, MO 64015 85%626$84,518$268,900$160 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · older residents
Aberdeen, MD 21001 84%1,274$83,238$285,800$188 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Aberdeen, NC 28315 84%997$77,418$303,100$174 cheaper homes ($26K less) · newer homes
Marietta, GA 30008 84%693$74,877$307,600$184 larger
North Charleston, SC 29420 83%928$72,661$331,700$190 larger · newer homes
Cleves, OH 45002 83%880$81,229$310,900$190 less walkable
Miamisburg, OH 45342 83%919$84,907$230,300$156 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger
Monticello, MN 55362 83%1,060$91,832$350,200$196 larger
Blue Springs, MO 64014 83%626$90,337$251,400$182 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Belle Chasse, LA 70037 83%329$98,983$385,200$191 pricier homes ($57K more)
Parkesburg, PA 19365 82%1,299$104,728$339,500$201 smaller
Conyers, GA 30013 82%721$74,691$308,400$153 larger
Decatur, GA 30035 82%709$66,799$244,200$142 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Memphis, TN 38133 82%488$81,659$270,900$166 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Casselton, ND 58012 82%1,171$75,000$283,700$152 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Lees Summit, MO 64063 82%619$80,459$263,000$174 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Prince George, VA 23875 81%1,158$74,543$271,700$203 cheaper homes ($57K less) · less walkable
Austell, GA 30106 81%689$68,881$288,100$166 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · more renters
Cartersville, GA 30121 81%691$78,366$285,500$180 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Lynn Haven, FL 32444 81%588$83,160$331,000$199 larger · older residents · 5 min shorter commute

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.