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 77093

Houston: median income $46,766, home value $142,800, $118/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Forest Park, GA 30297 85%694$45,124$152,900$124 smaller · more renters
Indianapolis, IN 46241 85%852$53,653$130,200$129 8 min shorter commute
Pensacola, FL 32505 83%484$44,783$136,500$135 smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Columbus, OH 43223 82%983$46,911$131,100$144 smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Warren, MI 48091 82%1,106$54,230$149,800$122 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Birmingham, AL 35215 81%571$52,793$157,300$95 less walkable
Indianapolis, IN 46218 81%863$38,063$103,100$94 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · older homes
Harvey, IL 60426 81%918$42,196$91,000$107 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Kansas City, MO 64129 81%636$51,310$119,400$125 smaller
Warren, MI 48089 80%1,108$52,366$122,100$123 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63138 80%683$56,096$139,100$103 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73159 80%403$54,642$159,200$142 9 min shorter commute
Memphis, TN 38122 79%483$48,710$123,000$117 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Columbus, OH 43227 79%990$48,159$152,800$155 smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Chalmette, LA 70043 79%322$55,068$214,700$136 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73119 79%405$45,421$100,600$123 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73129 79%405$46,670$84,700$120 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Louisville, KY 40216 78%791$56,441$167,100$150 older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Fort Wayne, IN 46816 78%961$45,343$157,700$153 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Mount Morris, MI 48458 78%1,119$46,797$95,600$113 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · older residents
Calumet City, IL 60409 78%921$55,369$145,200$113 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Chicago Heights, IL 60411 78%914$62,073$159,800$158 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, KS 66102 78%640$52,861$115,600$133 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Morrow, GA 30260 77%696$52,666$205,700$136 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Jacksonville, FL 32208 77%816$41,324$157,800$124 older residents · 7 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.