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.

Reset

Towns most like Austin, TX 78721

Austin: median income $84,573, home value $523,000, $328/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Flagstaff, AZ 86005 90%880$87,942$599,900$420 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger
Arvada, CO 80002 89%780$93,362$558,500$322 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Loma Linda, CA 92354 88%1,172$83,847$564,400$356 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Chattanooga, TN 37405 85%792$81,337$460,600$297 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Fort Collins, CO 80526 85%823$88,686$551,800$273 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Boise, ID 83706 85%1,369$82,893$537,700$364 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Beaverton, OR 97008 85%1,713$96,116$578,100$338 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · older residents
Charlottesville, VA 22902 84%1,219$93,463$436,200$290 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · older residents
Charleston, SC 29407 84%1,054$85,367$451,800$356 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · older homes
Gunnison, CO 81230 84%777$77,942$533,200$389 less walkable
Tempe, AZ 85283 84%862$84,568$442,800$298 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Beaverton, OR 97003 84%1,718$99,072$478,300$313 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30360 83%824$97,543$425,700$227 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 83%970$89,185$452,700$340 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · older residents
Tampa, FL 33616 83%930$93,210$405,500$278 cheaper homes ($118K less) · newer homes
Missoula, MT 59802 83%1,442$67,736$461,700$351 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80215 83%777$85,190$650,100$298 pricier homes ($127K more) · larger · older residents
Boise, ID 83703 83%1,375$76,910$508,000$353 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Scottsdale, AZ 85257 83%863$86,962$506,300$368 larger · older homes
Olympia, WA 98502 83%1,781$92,207$537,200$326 larger · older residents
Maitland, FL 32751 82%988$95,387$453,700$291 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · older residents
Nashville, TN 37206 82%752$96,169$600,200$362 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · older homes
Englewood, CO 80110 82%768$85,900$497,300$284 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · older homes
Chandler, AZ 85224 82%858$94,516$438,700$298 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Tampa, FL 33611 81%931$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · older 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.