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 Avenal, CA 93204

Avenal: median income $55,079, home value $228,900, $190/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
South Houston, TX 77587 83%1,505$53,497$189,300$160 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Houston, TX 77086 81%1,484$58,200$208,800$136 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Orlando, FL 32808 79%2,301$49,700$239,200$198 larger
Hutchins, TX 75141 78%1,353$48,159$248,900$188 smaller · newer homes
Houston, TX 77067 78%1,485$52,032$186,200$113 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Chalmette, LA 70043 77%1,790$55,068$214,700$136 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Morrow, GA 30260 76%2,027$52,666$205,700$136 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Balch Springs, TX 75180 76%1,356$67,019$223,900$164 larger · more homeowners
Fort Worth, TX 76106 76%1,314$55,431$172,400$178 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77038 76%1,487$57,232$194,200$124 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77034 75%1,506$58,217$197,200$142 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77039 75%1,493$47,119$165,600$137 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
San Antonio, TX 78242 75%1,329$50,644$148,200$136 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Fort Pierce, FL 34947 74%2,393$51,811$279,000$210 pricier homes ($50K more) · 10 min shorter commute
South Bay, FL 33493 73%2,395$53,083$137,000$216 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller · older residents
Joliet, IL 60432 73%1,759$64,917$193,700$177 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75227 73%1,352$64,008$217,000$160 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77048 73%1,500$56,747$210,300$177 larger · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
San Antonio, TX 78219 73%1,341$52,094$162,000$133 cheaper homes ($67K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85035 73%483$60,440$275,600$240 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · younger residents
Riverdale, GA 30274 72%2,023$52,209$174,300$133 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Mesquite, TX 75150 72%1,354$65,440$238,100$164 larger
Grand Prairie, TX 75051 71%1,335$58,245$227,400$190 larger · 10 min shorter commute · less walkable
Fort Worth, TX 76119 71%1,321$51,267$160,400$154 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77022 71%1,492$52,739$219,200$183 larger · 10 min shorter commute · older homes

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.