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, AK 99694

Houston: median income $74,531, home value $290,100, $276/sq ft, 53-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elmwood, TN 38560 87%3,212$77,986$241,300$249 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Ariel, WA 98603 85%1,532$78,281$464,500$291 pricier homes ($174K more)
Salvisa, KY 40372 76%3,152$74,205$229,800$189 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Pinon Hills, CA 92372 76%2,347$66,471$459,400$217 pricier homes ($169K more) · larger
Titus, AL 36080 75%3,401$70,703$231,300$184 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Sharps Chapel, TN 37866 75%3,273$77,091$279,000$284 larger · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Lexington, TX 78947 74%3,185$84,649$319,600$231 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older residents
Brownfield, ME 04010 73%3,278$60,889$287,500$265 9 min shorter commute
Parsonsfield, ME 04047 73%3,288$72,045$272,100$296 older residents · more walkable · older homes
Unionville, VA 22567 73%3,362$112,813$391,200$241 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($101K more) · larger
Capon Bridge, WV 26711 73%3,287$71,212$243,500$218 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · older residents
Knotts Island, NC 27950 73%3,521$88,250$290,300$255 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Reelsville, IN 46171 73%2,994$83,607$287,100$208 12 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Boston, VA 22713 72%3,338$90,795$377,200$249 pricier homes ($87K more) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Gay, GA 30218 72%3,430$68,250$193,900$221 cheaper homes ($96K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Readyville, TN 37149 72%3,225$78,345$402,900$268 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Pahala, HI 96777 72%2,944$64,643$233,200$239 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Grafton, NH 03240 71%3,264$81,563$267,300$223 older residents · 10 min shorter commute · older homes
Nanjemoy, MD 20662 71%3,374$86,699$397,300$191 pricier homes ($107K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Shipman, VA 22971 71%3,359$79,135$319,000$260 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · 14 min shorter commute
Concord, GA 30206 71%3,436$88,205$282,600$197 larger · older residents · 10 min shorter commute
Freedom, IN 47431 71%3,016$61,948$163,500— cheaper homes ($127K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Fayetteville, OH 45118 70%3,112$97,963$255,800$191 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · older residents
Palmdale, CA 93591 70%2,333$63,389$347,500$271 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Grizzly Flats, CA 95636 70%2,016$92,004$384,400$286 pricier homes ($94K more) · older residents · more homeowners

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.