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 77079

Houston: median income $101,995, home value $679,900, $339/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Towson, MD 21204 92%1,265$99,606$594,800$261 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28209 92%936$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Boulder, CO 80301 90%894$95,207$793,200$376 pricier homes ($113K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55416 89%1,056$105,958$461,500$272 cheaper homes ($218K less)
Denver, CO 80205 89%870$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85016 88%999$87,850$564,900$363 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Portland, OR 97239 88%1,823$110,134$772,700$321 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 87%1,230$100,697$613,600$349 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Charlotte, NC 28210 87%934$100,824$531,700$315 cheaper homes ($148K less)
Scottsdale, AZ 85251 87%993$92,851$554,400$388 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Seattle, WA 98125 87%1,882$99,868$874,300$489 pricier homes ($194K more)
Seattle, WA 98144 87%1,877$96,969$901,700$489 pricier homes ($222K more)
Alexandria, VA 22312 86%1,221$109,272$604,200$325 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Raleigh, NC 27609 86%1,069$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($209K less)
Nashville, TN 37206 86%677$96,169$600,200$362 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more single-family homes
Portland, OR 97225 86%1,827$114,598$751,700$319 pricier homes ($72K more) · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30305 85%715$106,907$737,500$391 pricier homes ($58K more)
Denver, CO 80222 85%864$86,472$623,400$359 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · older homes
Denver, CO 80237 85%862$85,705$582,500$241 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Fairfax, VA 22031 84%1,217$134,577$723,600$356 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($44K more)
Atlanta, GA 30328 84%717$112,111$561,900$236 cheaper homes ($118K less) · less walkable
Denver, CO 80224 84%864$86,352$604,000$274 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Rockville, MD 20852 83%1,229$122,472$665,200$359 more apartments and townhomes
Arlington, VA 22204 83%1,225$107,941$688,000$418 more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Raleigh, NC 27612 83%1,066$95,988$529,000$261 cheaper homes ($151K less) · less walkable · newer homes

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.