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 Raleigh, NC 27607

Raleigh: median income $96,775, home value $707,800, $339/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Irvine, CA 92617 85%2,214$91,529$693,700— younger residents
Tampa, FL 33606 81%586$120,729$845,600$551 pricier homes ($138K more)
Nashville, TN 37204 81%453$109,580$907,500$447 pricier homes ($200K more) · smaller · older residents
Houston, TX 77079 81%1,065$101,995$679,900$339 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents · older homes
Nashville, TN 37209 80%457$81,423$529,800$333 cheaper homes ($178K less) · older residents
Bozeman, MT 59718 79%1,820$99,123$646,400$353 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · older residents
Irving, TX 75063 79%1,059$117,133$559,900$225 cheaper homes ($148K less) · larger · older residents
Fort Worth, TX 76109 79%1,087$100,507$630,800$269 cheaper homes ($77K less) · older residents · older homes
Austin, TX 78702 79%1,164$102,171$686,800$430 older residents
Ann Arbor, MI 48105 78%524$94,774$503,100$264 cheaper homes ($205K less) · older residents · older homes
Englewood, CO 80112 78%1,451$108,874$659,200$282 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents
Boulder, CO 80301 78%1,469$95,207$793,200$376 pricier homes ($85K more) · older residents
Boise, ID 83706 78%2,046$82,893$537,700$364 cheaper homes ($170K less) · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30342 77%349$124,111$829,400$318 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($122K more) · older residents
Davis, CA 95616 77%2,356$74,359$895,600$470 pricier homes ($188K more) · larger · older homes
Austin, TX 78704 76%1,168$106,897$916,100$507 pricier homes ($208K more) · larger · older residents
Boulder, CO 80303 76%1,471$78,555$961,900$467 pricier homes ($254K more) · older homes
Davis, CA 95618 76%2,356$115,591$867,400$483 pricier homes ($160K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Towson, MD 21204 75%274$99,606$594,800$261 cheaper homes ($113K less) · older residents · older homes
Charlottesville, VA 22903 75%155$69,340$526,200$304 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($182K less) · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30324 75%349$92,122$502,500$277 cheaper homes ($205K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78723 75%1,161$100,329$562,300$355 cheaper homes ($146K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78759 75%1,162$102,400$674,000$332 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · older residents
Denver, CO 80204 75%1,458$84,829$620,500$401 cheaper homes ($87K less) · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30305 74%351$106,907$737,500$391 pricier homes ($30K more) · older 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.