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.

Reset

Towns most like Atlanta, GA 30318

Atlanta: median income $83,116, home value $430,600, $248/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Raleigh, NC 27606 92%353$78,371$457,900$247 pricier homes ($27K more)
Nashville, TN 37209 90%213$81,423$529,800$333 pricier homes ($99K more) · smaller
West Des Moines, IA 50266 89%741$87,025$345,600$221 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Austin, TX 78729 89%812$86,438$476,200$229 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · less walkable
Madison, WI 53719 88%695$92,052$367,000$242 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Durham, NC 27705 87%348$73,066$455,000$261 older homes
Greenville, SC 29607 87%140$74,503$359,500$194 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Beaverton, OR 97006 87%2,173$104,790$549,200$300 pricier homes ($119K more)
Houston, TX 77077 86%712$72,871$379,700$179 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Spring, TX 77380 85%693$88,562$375,500$215 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · older residents
Durham, NC 27707 84%347$74,406$407,800$249 older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32224 84%298$88,259$458,100$265 pricier homes ($28K more) · more homeowners · less walkable
Tampa, FL 33616 83%424$93,210$405,500$278 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32256 82%299$73,570$382,500$212 cheaper homes ($48K less) · less walkable
Fargo, ND 58104 82%1,108$85,747$359,400$177 cheaper homes ($71K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75252 82%714$85,000$580,600$241 pricier homes ($150K more) · smaller · older residents
Austin, TX 78728 82%808$75,243$437,000$217 smaller · more renters · less walkable
Austin, TX 78745 82%820$86,109$504,800$291 pricier homes ($74K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Raleigh, NC 27612 81%357$95,988$529,000$261 pricier homes ($98K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Orlando, FL 32835 81%403$71,418$349,100$211 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Columbus, OH 43235 81%444$86,666$383,500$206 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents · older homes
Houston, TX 77004 81%700$71,199$412,800$192 smaller · older homes
Harrisonburg, VA 22801 80%448$72,067$364,300$202 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Raleigh, NC 27609 80%359$83,065$471,200$311 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · older residents
Gainesville, FL 32608 80%313$61,588$358,200$206 cheaper homes ($72K less)

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.