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 78704

Austin: median income $106,897, home value $916,100, $507/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98122 92%1,769$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($41K more)
San Diego, CA 92122 90%1,157$105,177$1,046,300$742 pricier homes ($130K more)
Bellevue, WA 98007 88%1,763$131,109$1,018,100$543 pricier homes ($102K more) · smaller
Tampa, FL 33606 86%937$120,729$845,600$551 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · younger residents
San Diego, CA 92110 85%1,157$110,790$1,006,800$631 pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28209 84%1,039$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($293K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Irvine, CA 92614 84%1,198$122,821$1,076,700$822 pricier homes ($161K more) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92103 82%1,154$102,626$1,061,200$755 pricier homes ($145K more) · older residents · older homes
Irvine, CA 92606 82%1,198$135,598$1,141,100$788 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($225K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30305 81%821$106,907$737,500$391 cheaper homes ($179K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Irvine, CA 92612 80%1,198$106,226$993,800$750 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Portland, OR 97239 79%1,708$110,134$772,700$321 cheaper homes ($143K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98119 79%1,772$123,551$1,047,600$594 pricier homes ($132K more) · smaller · older homes
Denver, CO 80205 78%773$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($267K less) · older homes
San Diego, CA 92104 78%1,152$94,014$914,700$761 older homes
Emeryville, CA 94608 78%1,493$120,239$849,600$508 cheaper homes ($67K less) · 8 min longer commute · older homes
Boulder, CO 80301 77%797$95,207$793,200$376 cheaper homes ($123K less) · smaller · more homeowners
San Jose, CA 95126 77%1,466$128,983$1,214,300$744 pricier homes ($298K more)
Arlington, VA 22203 76%1,314$140,135$826,800$511 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
Raleigh, NC 27607 76%1,168$96,775$707,800$339 cheaper homes ($208K less) · smaller · younger residents
Denver, CO 80204 76%773$84,829$620,500$401 cheaper homes ($296K less)
Denver, CO 80206 76%771$101,594$915,400$427 smaller · more homeowners · older homes
Los Angeles, CA 90025 76%1,236$103,894$1,079,700$699 pricier homes ($164K more) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Seattle, WA 98102 76%1,770$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98107 76%1,774$142,662$953,400$553 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller

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.