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 77072

Houston: median income $51,070, home value $187,800, $114/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indianapolis, IN 46227 88%873$53,629$210,000$127 6 min shorter commute
New Orleans, LA 70127 87%337$40,765$204,700$113 smaller
Stone Mountain, GA 30083 86%726$55,307$242,000$146 pricier homes ($54K more)
Morrow, GA 30260 86%714$52,666$205,700$136 smaller · less walkable
Lakeland, FL 33801 85%833$53,061$166,800$190 smaller
Blue Island, IL 60406 85%937$56,557$175,200$138 smaller · older homes
Orlando, FL 32808 84%857$49,700$239,200$198 pricier homes ($51K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46224 84%874$55,986$181,600$147 6 min shorter commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73139 84%409$49,655$176,400$137 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Columbus, OH 43213 83%1,011$54,704$211,700$163 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Calumet City, IL 60409 83%938$55,369$145,200$113 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Hazelwood, MO 63042 83%694$49,453$149,400$128 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Daytona Beach, FL 32117 82%874$56,419$191,500$175 smaller · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46214 82%874$59,178$201,800$141 smaller · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Indianapolis, IN 46226 82%883$50,325$158,600$117 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Charlotte, NC 28212 81%944$52,723$266,900$195 pricier homes ($79K more)
Riverdale, GA 30274 81%709$52,209$174,300$133 smaller · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43232 81%1,008$51,417$172,300$159 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Waukegan, IL 60085 81%974$66,793$177,400$171 older homes
Waterbury, CT 06705 80%1,503$53,954$202,400$198 smaller · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33313 80%970$46,305$256,100$169 pricier homes ($68K more) · more apartments and townhomes
New Orleans, LA 70126 80%333$41,709$191,600$101 smaller · more single-family homes
Tampa, FL 33610 79%806$54,209$227,400$229 pricier homes ($40K more)
Montgomery, AL 36116 79%582$55,160$149,500$120 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Louisville, KY 40219 79%812$55,720$204,200$167 7 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.