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 Tampa, FL 33606

Tampa: median income $120,729, home value $845,600, $551/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlotte, NC 28209 86%508$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($223K less) · older residents
Austin, TX 78704 86%937$106,897$916,100$507 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · older residents
San Diego, CA 92122 85%2,089$105,177$1,046,300$742 pricier homes ($201K more) · larger
Bellevue, WA 98007 85%2,518$131,109$1,018,100$543 pricier homes ($173K more) · older homes
Irvine, CA 92614 82%2,125$122,821$1,076,700$822 pricier homes ($231K more) · older residents
Raleigh, NC 27607 81%586$96,775$707,800$339 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Atlanta, GA 30305 81%422$106,907$737,500$391 cheaper homes ($108K less) · older residents
Nashville, TN 37204 81%618$109,580$907,500$447 pricier homes ($62K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Irvine, CA 92606 81%2,125$135,598$1,141,100$788 pricier homes ($296K more) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98107 81%2,530$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($108K more) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98122 81%2,525$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · more renters
Charlotte, NC 28203 80%510$104,696$707,800$459 cheaper homes ($138K less) · more renters · newer homes
Irvine, CA 92617 79%2,126$91,529$693,700— lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($152K less) · younger residents
Arlington, VA 22203 77%815$140,135$826,800$511 older residents · 7 min longer commute · more renters
Atlanta, GA 30342 77%426$124,111$829,400$318 older residents · less walkable
Davis, CA 95618 77%2,365$115,591$867,400$483 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Arlington, VA 22201 76%816$145,000$781,600$625 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98119 76%2,528$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($202K more) · older residents · older homes
Houston, TX 77019 75%793$116,423$816,500$298 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents · newer homes
Chapel Hill, NC 27514 74%586$92,875$663,900$299 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($182K less)
Nashville, TN 37212 74%620$95,145$963,800$422 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($118K more) · older homes
Houston, TX 77079 74%805$101,995$679,900$339 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger · older residents
Boulder, CO 80301 74%1,542$95,207$793,200$376 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($52K less) · older residents
Boulder, CO 80303 74%1,541$78,555$961,900$467 lower income ($42K less) · pricier homes ($116K more) · older homes
Portland, OR 97239 74%2,501$110,134$772,700$321 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 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.