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 78717

Austin: median income $145,325, home value $652,200, $230/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlotte, NC 28277 87%1,031$128,627$560,600$269 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Lone Tree, CO 80124 87%744$129,858$773,900$272 pricier homes ($122K more) · smaller · more walkable
Phoenix, AZ 85085 87%868$128,984$669,100$267 Very close on everything we compare
New Albany, OH 43054 85%1,069$148,100$510,600$234 cheaper homes ($142K less) · more homeowners
Colorado Springs, CO 80924 85%706$139,447$656,800$207 smaller · more homeowners
Tampa, FL 33626 84%927$127,118$577,100$289 cheaper homes ($75K less) · more homeowners
Franklin, TN 37067 82%736$111,759$756,300$313 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($104K more)
Ellicott City, MD 21043 81%1,328$148,125$620,900$272 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Orlando, FL 32836 81%986$111,987$677,800$307 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($26K more)
Carmel, IN 46032 81%925$132,085$496,800$218 cheaper homes ($155K less) · more homeowners
Fort Collins, CO 80528 81%801$130,350$705,000$246 pricier homes ($53K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Orlando, FL 32827 80%996$117,483$662,200$284 lower income ($28K less) · smaller
Dublin, OH 43016 80%1,054$109,972$452,000$211 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($200K less)
Cary, NC 27519 79%1,149$165,586$670,900$267 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Raleigh, NC 27614 79%1,164$128,834$577,400$231 cheaper homes ($75K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Orlando, FL 32832 79%1,006$118,856$497,200$233 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($155K less) · more homeowners
Windermere, FL 34786 79%984$134,214$684,400$308 pricier homes ($32K more) · more homeowners
Alpharetta, GA 30004 78%823$156,100$657,700$249 larger · more homeowners
Alpharetta, GA 30005 78%827$176,957$636,300$236 higher income ($32K more) · more homeowners
Tampa, FL 33647 78%940$109,285$472,500$211 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($180K less) · larger
Dublin, OH 43017 78%1,056$135,922$523,500$226 cheaper homes ($129K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Henrico, VA 23233 77%1,258$125,665$479,000$248 cheaper homes ($173K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Apex, NC 27523 77%1,150$135,625$659,300$252 smaller · more homeowners
Saint Paul, MN 55129 77%1,028$143,795$534,900$199 cheaper homes ($117K less) · more homeowners
Littleton, CO 80129 77%747$141,667$663,800$266 more homeowners · more 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.