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 Austin, TX 78701

Austin: median income $162,168, home value $722,400, $705/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33131 88%1,114$144,138$655,100$622 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · younger residents
Washington, DC 20003 77%1,318$159,846$957,700$625 pricier homes ($235K more) · larger · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98121 73%1,770$152,019$848,400$575 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger · younger residents
Washington, DC 20004 71%1,316$184,792$689,600$528 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · older homes
Alexandria, VA 22314 69%1,313$148,451$899,000$624 pricier homes ($177K more) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Orlando, FL 32814 69%994$140,274$754,300$363 pricier homes ($32K more) · more single-family homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 68%1,109$124,812$884,800$542 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($162K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60654 67%980$147,357$500,400$404 cheaper homes ($222K less) · larger · younger residents
New York, NY 10280 66%1,510$206,299$976,300$1,104 higher income ($44K more) · pricier homes ($254K more) · 6 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60601 66%980$121,458$526,200$494 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($196K less) · younger residents
Playa Vista, CA 90094 66%1,235$145,744$1,356,000$885 pricier homes ($634K more) · 10 min longer commute · more renters
Seattle, WA 98107 66%1,774$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($231K more) · larger · younger residents
Chicago, IL 60607 65%978$127,732$499,700$417 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($223K less) · larger
Arlington, VA 22203 64%1,311$140,135$826,800$511 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · younger residents
Minneapolis, MN 55415 64%1,045$124,921$625,500$406 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60642 64%980$143,175$593,600$385 cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger · younger residents
San Francisco, CA 94107 63%1,498$182,897$1,222,500$1,051 pricier homes ($500K more) · larger · younger residents
Reston, VA 20190 62%1,302$134,746$581,400$402 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger
Arlington, VA 22201 62%1,313$145,000$781,600$625 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · younger residents
Chicago, IL 60611 62%981$125,675$650,800$394 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80202 62%772$114,151$722,700$467 lower income ($48K less) · larger · younger residents
San Francisco, CA 94105 62%1,498$225,000$1,398,000$1,200 higher income ($63K more) · pricier homes ($676K more) · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98109 62%1,771$133,663$1,034,100$649 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($312K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20001 60%1,317$138,059$852,600$552 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger · younger residents
Arlington, VA 22209 60%1,314$120,515$820,000$602 lower income ($42K less) · pricier homes ($98K more) · younger 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.