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 37212

Nashville: median income $95,145, home value $963,800, $422/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boulder, CO 80303 84%1,036$78,555$961,900$467 older residents · less walkable
Davis, CA 95616 80%1,915$74,359$895,600$470 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · newer homes
Chapel Hill, NC 27514 78%434$92,875$663,900$299 cheaper homes ($300K less) · larger · newer homes
Austin, TX 78751 77%748$80,915$852,000$470 cheaper homes ($112K less) · older residents · more renters
Austin, TX 78756 76%748$94,701$832,000$500 cheaper homes ($132K less) · smaller · older residents
Tampa, FL 33606 74%620$120,729$845,600$551 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($118K less) · newer homes
Raleigh, NC 27607 72%454$96,775$707,800$339 cheaper homes ($256K less) · newer homes
Boulder, CO 80302 72%1,038$61,698$1,190,800$604 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($227K more)
Seattle, WA 98105 72%1,970$74,349$1,312,100$578 pricier homes ($348K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80206 71%1,018$101,594$915,400$427 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 71%1,389$83,916$779,200$375 cheaper homes ($185K less) · older residents
Columbus, OH 43212 70%336$77,257$533,700$336 cheaper homes ($430K less) · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63105 70%260$116,439$766,300$345 cheaper homes ($198K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80205 69%1,019$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($315K less) · larger · older residents
Irvine, CA 92617 69%1,760$91,529$693,700— cheaper homes ($270K less) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80211 68%1,022$121,439$807,100$442 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28209 67%340$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($341K less) · older residents · newer homes
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 67%455$64,231$491,200$393 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($473K less) · larger
Charleston, SC 29403 66%453$66,944$674,000$586 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($290K less) · older residents
Bozeman, MT 59715 66%1,419$88,407$848,400$466 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger · older residents
Austin, TX 78704 66%753$106,897$916,100$507 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · older residents
Seattle, WA 98119 66%1,973$123,551$1,047,600$594 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($84K more) · older residents
Madison, WI 53705 65%500$88,549$475,400$340 cheaper homes ($488K less) · older residents
Houston, TX 77079 65%673$101,995$679,900$339 cheaper homes ($284K less) · larger · older residents
Fort Worth, TX 76109 64%647$100,507$630,800$269 cheaper homes ($333K less) · older residents · less walkable

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.