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 77082

Houston: median income $62,455, home value $243,300, $139/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indianapolis, IN 46268 90%880$68,631$229,600$144 smaller
Orlando, FL 32822 86%869$56,540$255,000$199 Very close on everything we compare
Kissimmee, FL 34741 85%863$52,409$306,400$190 pricier homes ($63K more)
Lexington, KY 40517 85%856$53,670$216,900$169 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Charlotte, NC 28213 83%946$58,146$282,900$192 pricier homes ($40K more) · less walkable
Orlando, FL 32811 83%859$54,082$218,900$177 6 min shorter commute
Charlotte, NC 28212 82%945$52,723$266,900$195 older homes
Charlotte, NC 28217 82%936$64,028$263,300$233 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30340 82%727$62,748$344,000$204 pricier homes ($101K more) · smaller · older homes
Nashville, TN 37217 82%681$62,796$317,400$193 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller · older homes
Fort Myers, FL 33916 81%865$52,586$266,500$177 smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46254 81%877$60,287$186,300$148 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Duluth, GA 30096 80%734$74,656$375,200$200 pricier homes ($132K more)
Union City, GA 30291 80%704$48,184$222,000$139 smaller · less walkable
Orlando, FL 32835 80%857$71,418$349,100$211 pricier homes ($106K more)
Tampa, FL 33617 80%809$50,948$296,900$214 pricier homes ($54K more) · older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32216 79%841$61,821$266,500$181 8 min shorter commute
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 79%860$70,955$325,300$204 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Tampa, FL 33637 79%810$63,323$229,200$200 smaller · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43228 78%1,000$61,713$219,900$186 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Indianapolis, IN 46214 78%874$59,178$201,800$141 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Newport News, VA 23608 77%1,211$71,126$266,500$198 more homeowners · less walkable
Charleston, SC 29406 77%946$49,815$229,300$209 smaller
Norcross, GA 30093 77%731$48,404$265,700$178 Very close on everything we compare
Clementon, NJ 08021 76%1,357$68,044$217,000$210 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older 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.