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 Nashville, TN 37209

Nashville: median income $81,423, home value $529,800, $333/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Durham, NC 27705 92%442$73,066$455,000$261 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32224 92%511$88,259$458,100$265 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Atlanta, GA 30318 90%213$83,116$430,600$248 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30341 90%214$86,313$463,100$287 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older homes
Austin, TX 78729 90%742$86,438$476,200$229 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Raleigh, NC 27609 89%460$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older homes
Raleigh, NC 27612 89%457$95,988$529,000$261 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Collins, CO 80526 89%1,032$88,686$551,800$273 Very close on everything we compare
Durham, NC 27707 88%443$74,406$407,800$249 cheaper homes ($122K less) · older homes
Dallas, TX 75252 88%605$85,000$580,600$241 pricier homes ($51K more) · older residents
Austin, TX 78745 88%753$86,109$504,800$291 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · older homes
Raleigh, NC 27606 87%456$78,371$457,900$247 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Charlotte, NC 28210 87%344$100,824$531,700$315 older homes
Tampa, FL 33611 87%625$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents
Madison, WI 53719 87%495$92,052$367,000$242 cheaper homes ($163K less)
Broomfield, CO 80021 87%1,024$110,038$568,000$292 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($38K more)
Corvallis, OR 97333 87%1,985$65,191$511,100$351 smaller
Austin, TX 78723 86%744$100,329$562,300$355 pricier homes ($33K more) · older homes
Englewood, CO 80112 86%1,010$108,874$659,200$282 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($129K more)
Boise, ID 83706 86%1,628$82,893$537,700$364 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Tampa, FL 33616 85%626$93,210$405,500$278 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 85%453$89,355$406,700$234 cheaper homes ($123K less)
Bozeman, MT 59718 85%1,425$99,123$646,400$353 pricier homes ($117K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Austin, TX 78727 85%741$110,379$540,400$272 higher income ($29K more)
Fort Collins, CO 80525 85%1,029$91,636$588,400$265 pricier homes ($59K more)

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.