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 77080

Houston: median income $62,134, home value $345,000, $199/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marietta, GA 30060 96%704$67,510$316,000$231 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80910 96%815$61,969$320,300$198 smaller
Atlanta, GA 30340 93%718$62,748$344,000$204 smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85029 93%1,009$64,556$345,600$249 Very close on everything we compare
Kennewick, WA 99336 93%1,703$62,527$324,400$240 Very close on everything we compare
Norfolk, VA 23503 92%1,213$67,649$293,100$223 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32277 92%833$61,554$283,000$178 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Orlando, FL 32807 92%862$59,971$272,700$238 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Aurora, CO 80012 92%863$73,000$429,500$216 pricier homes ($85K more)
Mesa, AZ 85210 92%990$61,957$337,800$260 Very close on everything we compare
Bakersfield, CA 93309 92%1,419$63,544$320,400$230 Very close on everything we compare
Richmond, VA 23223 91%1,168$55,731$265,200$238 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Atlanta, GA 30354 91%706$63,189$273,700$199 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
Mesa, AZ 85202 91%992$71,619$370,900$255 pricier homes ($26K more)
Norcross, GA 30071 90%722$64,515$369,800$203 smaller · newer homes
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 90%854$70,955$325,300$204 Very close on everything we compare
Tampa, FL 33617 90%803$50,948$296,900$214 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80917 90%817$72,991$387,800$200 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Richmond, VA 23225 89%1,162$62,949$313,300$265 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Newport News, VA 23608 89%1,203$71,126$266,500$198 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Atlanta, GA 30315 89%707$50,822$317,700$200 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Atlanta, GA 30344 89%703$68,380$275,000$170 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Winter Park, FL 32792 89%861$69,200$374,200$256 pricier homes ($29K more)
Madison, TN 37115 89%677$54,566$307,500$220 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents
Nashville, TN 37217 89%672$62,796$317,400$193 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 5 min longer 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.