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 77078

Houston: median income $39,093, home value $162,100, $160/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Douglas, AZ 85607 85%855$43,351$153,800$162 7 min shorter commute
Clearlake, CA 95422 83%1,675$42,241$217,000$201 pricier homes ($55K more) · more walkable
Bolivar, TN 38008 81%521$43,789$127,800$135 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · less walkable
Gastonia, NC 28052 80%897$49,643$187,500$174 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Wadesboro, NC 28170 80%953$39,548$154,400$130 older residents · less walkable
Quincy, FL 32351 80%638$38,967$134,600$120 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Kansas City, MO 64129 80%636$51,310$119,400$125 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Bogalusa, LA 70427 80%328$38,074$133,400$99 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents · less walkable
Winston-Salem, NC 27105 79%971$44,080$168,400$155 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Fort Wayne, IN 46816 79%959$45,343$157,700$153 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Donaldsonville, LA 70346 79%256$35,280$176,900$131 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Emporia, VA 23847 78%1,124$51,168$139,300$154 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Greenville, SC 29611 78%823$51,565$195,700$181 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Forest Park, GA 30297 78%690$45,124$152,900$124 larger · more renters
Warner Robins, GA 31093 78%712$45,991$157,100$130 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Gainesville, FL 32641 78%783$35,223$144,000$164 11 min shorter commute
Fort Meade, FL 33841 78%828$39,384$170,900$199 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Morristown, TN 37813 78%820$48,011$172,600$171 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Butler, MO 64730 78%584$49,883$165,400$144 smaller · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Chalmette, LA 70043 78%317$55,068$214,700$136 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Eunice, LA 70535 78%177$44,381$159,100$81 Very close on everything we compare
Minden, LA 71055 78%225$36,953$127,000$101 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Roxboro, NC 27573 77%1,044$45,736$175,000$167 older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Forest City, NC 28043 77%867$42,276$175,400$153 older residents · 9 min shorter commute
South Bay, FL 33493 77%910$53,083$137,000$216 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller

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.