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 77069

Houston: median income $80,257, home value $324,100, $137/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cordova, TN 38016 87%489$76,569$282,800$133 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Kansas City, MO 64151 86%639$92,876$323,000$166 6 min shorter commute
Glassboro, NJ 08028 85%1,333$89,130$312,100$218 younger residents
Lafayette, LA 70508 85%209$86,005$305,300$163 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Spokane, WA 99218 85%1,690$80,733$445,300$187 pricier homes ($121K more)
Tucker, GA 30084 84%714$81,304$360,500$204 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · older residents
Kennesaw, GA 30144 84%697$88,560$345,900$188 larger
Macon, GA 31210 84%722$78,447$285,800$130 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Kansas City, MO 64153 84%643$82,964$353,200$186 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · newer homes
Newport News, VA 23602 83%1,197$79,475$288,200$193 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30360 83%713$97,543$425,700$227 pricier homes ($102K more)
Metairie, LA 70006 83%319$76,505$344,800$167 7 min shorter commute
Raleigh, NC 27603 82%1,054$90,484$383,200$209 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · newer homes
Raleigh, NC 27604 82%1,061$70,375$349,200$208 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Marietta, GA 30008 82%695$74,877$307,600$184 larger
Norcross, GA 30071 82%717$64,515$369,800$203 pricier homes ($46K more)
Jacksonville, FL 32257 82%832$75,780$339,300$200 larger · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Orlando, FL 32812 82%861$73,149$375,200$235 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Nashville, TN 37214 82%667$72,012$340,900$243 Very close on everything we compare
Hattiesburg, MS 39402 82%376$75,220$253,900$153 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · less walkable
Valparaiso, IN 46383 82%922$76,224$279,900$179 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Ypsilanti, MI 48197 82%1,073$73,737$294,500$186 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Burnsville, MN 55306 82%1,026$100,515$374,700$187 pricier homes ($51K more)
Aurora, IL 60504 82%908$98,008$286,500$219 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Wichita, KS 67226 82%545$92,341$304,500$136 10 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.