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 77095

Houston: median income $91,594, home value $315,500, $139/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lawrenceville, GA 30043 94%738$94,096$377,500$180 pricier homes ($62K more)
Garner, NC 27529 92%1,066$85,716$355,500$182 pricier homes ($40K more)
Fairburn, GA 30213 92%698$94,125$316,100$154 younger residents
Covington, LA 70433 92%334$81,241$325,000$181 smaller
Summerville, SC 29485 91%935$82,987$341,600$183 pricier homes ($26K more)
Mableton, GA 30126 91%702$101,891$377,000$177 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller
Greenwood, IN 46143 91%860$91,496$318,300$159 6 min shorter commute
Lilburn, GA 30047 90%732$88,652$367,300$173 pricier homes ($52K more)
Daphne, AL 36526 90%466$88,750$322,100$177 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Acworth, GA 30102 89%709$97,676$333,000$186 smaller
Buford, GA 30518 89%742$96,936$411,000$200 pricier homes ($96K more)
Clarksville, TN 37043 89%665$95,219$356,900$185 pricier homes ($41K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Noblesville, IN 46060 89%888$91,918$321,100$173 6 min shorter commute
Columbia, SC 29229 88%912$74,043$247,400$147 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Rock Hill, SC 29732 88%920$84,937$334,000$198 5 min shorter commute
Mcdonough, GA 30253 88%719$81,892$315,800$144 younger residents
Buford, GA 30519 88%744$102,553$413,000$182 pricier homes ($98K more)
Chester, VA 23831 87%1,166$95,750$336,700$207 smaller
Clayton, NC 27520 87%1,073$86,322$320,900$187 Very close on everything we compare
Newnan, GA 30263 87%680$78,992$312,600$190 Very close on everything we compare
New Port Richey, FL 34655 87%791$85,470$380,200$206 pricier homes ($65K more) · older residents
Mobile, AL 36695 87%446$76,040$254,100$151 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Cordova, TN 38018 87%499$90,004$293,800$147 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Slidell, LA 70461 87%355$89,003$273,500$142 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Albuquerque, NM 87114 87%738$84,277$333,400$202 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.