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 77089

Houston: median income $88,140, home value $250,900, $149/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Concord, NC 28025 90%943$79,545$306,800$191 pricier homes ($56K more)
Franklin, IN 46131 90%859$85,076$247,700$166 smaller · less walkable
Round Lake, IL 60073 90%968$98,514$231,200$185 Very close on everything we compare
Carpentersville, IL 60110 90%949$87,906$233,700$215 Very close on everything we compare
Miamisburg, OH 45342 89%931$84,907$230,300$156 smaller
Bolingbrook, IL 60440 89%926$93,494$277,000$210 pricier homes ($26K more)
Blue Springs, MO 64014 89%653$90,337$251,400$182 smaller
Blue Springs, MO 64015 89%653$84,518$268,900$160 smaller
Memphis, TN 38133 88%500$81,659$270,900$166 smaller
Middletown, OH 45044 88%920$73,732$241,600$172 Very close on everything we compare
Indianapolis, IN 46237 88%868$79,078$232,300$147 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73160 88%418$79,491$203,000$152 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Broken Arrow, OK 74012 88%447$81,456$243,800$154 8 min shorter commute
Charlotte, NC 28215 87%929$71,162$315,000$202 pricier homes ($64K more)
Goose Creek, SC 29445 87%928$81,594$281,500$199 pricier homes ($31K more) · less walkable
Marietta, GA 30008 87%691$74,877$307,600$184 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Orange Park, FL 32073 87%809$76,455$287,600$181 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents
Painesville, OH 44077 87%1,146$85,056$221,200$168 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Tucson, AZ 85741 87%955$76,271$299,500$219 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Elkton, MD 21921 86%1,297$85,775$330,400$190 pricier homes ($80K more) · less walkable
Stone Mountain, GA 30088 86%710$70,325$238,700$134 smaller
Cartersville, GA 30120 86%687$86,581$307,000$179 pricier homes ($56K more) · less walkable
Panama City, FL 32404 86%579$74,708$273,500$177 less walkable
Apopka, FL 32703 86%831$72,880$344,200$215 pricier homes ($93K more)
Louisville, KY 40229 86%803$79,936$215,100$166 cheaper homes ($36K less) · less walkable

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.