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 77088

Houston: median income $54,411, home value $200,000, $141/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chalmette, LA 70043 93%329$55,068$214,700$136 smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46221 90%860$65,280$191,300$149 smaller
Greenville, SC 29611 89%832$51,565$195,700$181 smaller
Zion, IL 60099 89%965$66,109$196,700$187 smaller
Winter Haven, FL 33880 88%838$56,390$228,300$169 pricier homes ($28K more)
Bridgeton, NJ 08302 87%1,323$65,516$202,200$181 older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32210 87%819$61,050$225,600$164 pricier homes ($26K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46235 87%872$58,951$185,800$133 smaller
Chicago Heights, IL 60411 87%916$62,073$159,800$158 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Hobbs, NM 88240 87%494$63,270$186,900$148 7 min shorter commute
Burlington, NC 27217 86%1,023$51,950$173,200$182 cheaper homes ($27K less) · less walkable
Pensacola, FL 32506 86%488$62,486$206,100$164 smaller · older residents
Birmingham, AL 35215 86%576$52,793$157,300$95 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73159 86%400$54,642$159,200$142 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Gastonia, NC 28052 85%907$49,643$187,500$174 smaller · less walkable
Jonesboro, GA 30236 85%699$66,973$249,100$137 pricier homes ($49K more)
Bartow, FL 33830 85%836$63,918$228,900$178 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Port Richey, FL 34668 85%778$47,401$191,600$183 older residents
Louisville, KY 40216 85%794$56,441$167,100$150 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents · older homes
Indianapolis, IN 46229 85%869$61,388$191,100$137 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Warren, MI 48091 85%1,108$54,230$149,800$122 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · older homes
Independence, MO 64056 85%641$67,685$198,400$160 smaller
Gretna, LA 70056 85%325$59,027$230,500$137 pricier homes ($31K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Westwego, LA 70094 85%315$53,597$159,700$136 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · older residents
Riverdale, GA 30274 84%697$52,209$174,300$133 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · more renters

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.