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 77094

Houston: median income $139,932, home value $477,500, $208/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Grove, PA 19390 86%1,320$128,858$417,900$222 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Schwenksville, PA 19473 86%1,350$138,819$476,300$248 larger · more homeowners
Grover, MO 63040 86%673$133,220$426,600$188 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Tyrone, GA 30290 85%702$121,380$463,000$213 more single-family homes
Lutz, FL 33548 85%807$129,857$582,200$291 pricier homes ($105K more) · younger residents
Mars, PA 16046 84%1,160$151,560$481,300$212 larger · younger residents
East Lyme, CT 06333 83%1,536$129,083$439,000$273 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Perry Hall, MD 21128 83%1,278$128,069$449,500$212 cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Bogart, GA 30622 83%771$133,563$397,700$221 cheaper homes ($80K less) · younger residents
Avon Lake, OH 44012 83%1,115$115,567$368,300$213 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger
Geneva, IL 60134 83%933$152,727$448,900$249 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · younger residents
Harleysville, PA 19438 82%1,354$138,134$480,300$246 larger
Bowie, MD 20720 82%1,249$158,997$564,600$216 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · more homeowners
Duluth, GA 30097 82%739$124,890$625,100$217 pricier homes ($148K more) · larger
Peachtree City, GA 30269 82%702$113,807$481,500$238 lower income ($26K less) · larger
Prospect, KY 40059 82%827$152,727$559,300$210 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Aurora, OH 44202 82%1,132$118,750$375,300$207 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Winfield, IL 60190 82%936$142,612$392,800$248 cheaper homes ($85K less) · more homeowners
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 82%948$153,495$419,900$249 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · more homeowners
Batavia, IL 60510 82%931$121,622$392,200$237 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · older homes
East Amherst, NY 14051 81%1,313$135,663$421,300$238 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Venetia, PA 15367 81%1,142$135,542$544,100$216 pricier homes ($67K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
Chalfont, PA 18914 81%1,363$148,824$491,300$272 larger · older homes
Glenmoore, PA 19343 81%1,331$160,256$567,700$267 pricier homes ($90K more) · more homeowners
Gambrills, MD 21054 81%1,256$163,825$611,000$251 pricier homes ($134K more) · larger · younger residents

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.