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 77090

Houston: median income $50,903, home value $251,600, $120/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Norcross, GA 30093 90%712$48,404$265,700$178 Very close on everything we compare
Orlando, FL 32811 90%849$54,082$218,900$177 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Orlando, FL 32839 86%852$47,313$280,700$191 pricier homes ($29K more)
Columbia, SC 29210 84%884$50,871$194,400$118 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Charlotte, NC 28212 83%926$52,723$266,900$195 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Myers, FL 33916 83%859$52,586$266,500$177 older residents · newer homes
Kissimmee, FL 34741 83%854$52,409$306,400$190 pricier homes ($55K more)
Tampa, FL 33613 82%796$44,032$272,700$233 Very close on everything we compare
Union City, GA 30291 81%685$48,184$222,000$139 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Clarkston, GA 30021 80%707$52,278$275,400$182 younger residents · 9 min longer commute
Biloxi, MS 39531 80%388$54,218$211,500$138 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Lexington, KY 40517 80%834$53,670$216,900$169 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Charleston, SC 29406 79%930$49,815$229,300$209 more homeowners
Orlando, FL 32822 79%859$56,540$255,000$199 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Tampa, FL 33617 77%800$50,948$296,900$214 pricier homes ($45K more) · more homeowners
Nashville, TN 37217 77%660$62,796$317,400$193 pricier homes ($66K more) · more homeowners
Indianapolis, IN 46214 77%851$59,178$201,800$141 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Tulsa, OK 74136 77%419$51,820$298,100$130 pricier homes ($47K more) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Greenville, NC 27834 76%1,115$48,935$174,500$154 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33313 76%966$46,305$256,100$169 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Indianapolis, IN 46224 76%851$55,986$181,600$147 cheaper homes ($70K less) · older homes
Indianapolis, IN 46227 76%850$53,629$210,000$127 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Glendale, AZ 85301 76%1,011$53,827$255,300$196 larger
Saint Cloud, MN 56304 75%1,076$58,148$251,500$147 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Memphis, TN 38115 74%476$45,636$145,400$96 cheaper homes ($106K less) · 8 min shorter 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.