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 78702

Austin: median income $102,171, home value $686,800, $430/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlotte, NC 28209 84%1,036$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($64K less) · older homes
Bozeman, MT 59718 80%1,290$99,123$646,400$353 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · more homeowners
Raleigh, NC 27607 79%1,164$96,775$707,800$339 younger residents
Beaverton, OR 97006 79%1,717$104,790$549,200$300 cheaper homes ($138K less) · larger
Flagstaff, AZ 86005 78%878$87,942$599,900$420 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Portland, OR 97239 77%1,709$110,134$772,700$321 pricier homes ($86K more) · older homes
Hillsboro, OR 97124 76%1,722$110,067$556,300$313 cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger
Nashville, TN 37209 75%747$81,423$529,800$333 cheaper homes ($157K less) · less walkable
Boise, ID 83706 75%1,369$82,893$537,700$364 cheaper homes ($149K less) · younger residents · older homes
Greenville, SC 29601 74%945$76,136$659,000$414 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Boulder, CO 80301 74%797$95,207$793,200$376 pricier homes ($106K more) · more homeowners · less walkable
Englewood, CO 80112 73%761$108,874$659,200$282 cheaper homes ($28K less) · less walkable
Denver, CO 80204 73%773$84,829$620,500$401 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Davis, CA 95618 73%1,479$115,591$867,400$483 pricier homes ($181K more) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Nashville, TN 37204 72%750$109,580$907,500$447 pricier homes ($221K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80230 72%769$99,750$829,000$324 pricier homes ($142K more) · smaller · older residents
Wilsonville, OR 97070 72%1,706$97,429$631,400$285 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Franklin, TN 37067 71%744$111,759$756,300$313 pricier homes ($70K more) · less walkable
Middleton, WI 53562 71%996$101,381$532,200$270 cheaper homes ($155K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Broomfield, CO 80021 71%785$110,038$568,000$292 cheaper homes ($119K less) · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Scottsdale, AZ 85260 71%861$97,177$698,200$400 larger · older residents · more homeowners
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 71%1,373$96,824$973,000$656 pricier homes ($286K more) · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30305 70%818$106,907$737,500$391 pricier homes ($51K more) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30312 70%817$82,779$530,600$310 cheaper homes ($156K less) · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Tampa, FL 33606 70%934$120,729$845,600$551 pricier homes ($159K more) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes

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.