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 77087

Houston: median income $52,847, home value $177,900, $139/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kenner, LA 70062 92%304$51,477$200,300$151 smaller
Blue Island, IL 60406 89%930$56,557$175,200$138 more apartments and townhomes
Columbus, OH 43224 88%998$53,321$170,800$177 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43227 88%997$48,159$152,800$155 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Joliet, IL 60432 88%913$64,917$193,700$177 smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32211 87%821$57,021$229,700$179 pricier homes ($52K more)
Pensacola, FL 32505 87%484$44,783$136,500$135 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Joliet, IL 60436 87%908$62,961$180,800$182 smaller
Waterbury, CT 06705 86%1,490$53,954$202,400$198 more apartments and townhomes
Pleasantville, NJ 08232 86%1,355$53,899$195,000$215 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Columbus, OH 43223 86%991$46,911$131,100$144 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73159 86%415$54,642$159,200$142 less walkable
Hampton, VA 23663 85%1,204$54,336$202,300$191 smaller
Louisville, KY 40214 85%800$54,931$184,600$146 less walkable
Milwaukee, WI 53216 85%1,010$46,752$143,400$125 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older homes
Calumet City, IL 60409 85%931$55,369$145,200$113 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 7 min longer commute
Hazelwood, MO 63042 85%688$49,453$149,400$128 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · less walkable
Independence, MO 64050 85%652$48,834$145,300$156 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73139 85%414$49,655$176,400$137 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Tucson, AZ 85714 85%944$55,000$203,600$194 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Cincinnati, OH 45211 84%893$53,868$169,500$142 Very close on everything we compare
Indianapolis, IN 46241 84%861$53,653$130,200$129 cheaper homes ($48K less) · younger residents
Des Moines, IA 50315 84%825$60,590$173,200$187 6 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63138 84%693$56,096$139,100$103 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · less walkable
Chesapeake, VA 23324 83%1,202$57,045$251,800$193 pricier homes ($74K more)

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.