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 77071

Houston: median income $54,139, home value $245,100, $122/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atlanta, GA 30311 92%707$50,649$289,100$136 pricier homes ($44K more)
Oklahoma City, OK 73132 89%426$60,419$213,500$131 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Stone Mountain, GA 30083 88%723$55,307$242,000$146 larger
New Orleans, LA 70131 87%332$62,389$237,700$124 more homeowners
Decatur, GA 30035 85%721$66,799$244,200$142 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, GA 30315 85%712$50,822$317,700$200 pricier homes ($73K more)
Decatur, GA 30032 84%719$62,765$273,600$185 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · older homes
Melbourne, FL 32901 84%907$54,651$282,300$189 pricier homes ($37K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30344 83%708$68,380$275,000$170 pricier homes ($30K more)
Mobile, AL 36609 83%445$49,830$205,300$133 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30354 82%710$63,189$273,700$199 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Palm Bay, FL 32905 82%909$56,411$230,000$178 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53223 82%1,022$60,839$203,100$156 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Rocky Mount, NC 27804 81%1,113$61,359$209,300$133 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 9 min shorter commute
West Columbia, SC 29169 81%898$57,122$209,200$160 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 11 min shorter commute
Columbia, SC 29223 81%909$62,408$202,900$141 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46214 81%874$59,178$201,800$141 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46268 81%880$68,631$229,600$144 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Gretna, LA 70056 81%329$59,027$230,500$137 less walkable
Orlando, FL 32807 80%861$59,971$272,700$238 pricier homes ($28K more)
Louisville, KY 40218 80%816$58,811$205,300$147 cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Richton Park, IL 60471 80%926$64,494$222,000$141 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Hazelwood, MO 63042 80%696$49,453$149,400$128 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller
Kenner, LA 70065 80%317$67,285$260,700$155 larger · more homeowners
New Orleans, LA 70126 80%329$41,709$191,600$101 cheaper homes ($54K less)

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.