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 77098

Houston: median income $116,650, home value $787,300, $293/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Orlando, FL 32814 86%853$140,274$754,300$363 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Portland, OR 97239 86%1,833$110,134$772,700$321 older homes
Charlotte, NC 28203 79%928$104,696$707,800$459 cheaper homes ($80K less) · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30305 78%706$106,907$737,500$391 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55401 76%1,060$113,522$396,500$318 cheaper homes ($391K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Charlotte, NC 28204 75%930$92,054$585,200$326 cheaper homes ($202K less) · smaller · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30324 75%708$92,122$502,500$277 cheaper homes ($285K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60611 75%946$125,675$650,800$394 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60642 75%945$143,175$593,600$385 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($194K less) · 8 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80202 75%879$114,151$722,700$467 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80230 74%874$99,750$829,000$324 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · older residents
Portland, OR 97227 74%1,834$93,293$662,000$294 cheaper homes ($125K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22203 73%1,217$140,135$826,800$511 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30309 73%705$114,072$432,300$342 cheaper homes ($355K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Arlington, VA 22202 72%1,219$133,762$899,000$453 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Tampa, FL 33602 72%793$97,320$653,100$431 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55415 72%1,059$124,921$625,500$406 cheaper homes ($162K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Chicago, IL 60607 72%943$127,732$499,700$417 cheaper homes ($288K less) · larger · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98122 72%1,888$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($170K more) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28209 71%927$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($164K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98107 71%1,893$142,662$953,400$553 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($166K more) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30312 70%705$82,779$530,600$310 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($257K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33131 70%970$144,138$655,100$622 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($132K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Tampa, FL 33606 70%793$120,729$845,600$551 pricier homes ($58K more) · younger residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 69%965$124,812$884,800$542 pricier homes ($98K more) · 6 min longer 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.