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 78722

Austin: median income $105,046, home value $678,300, $453/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80212 82%775$124,972$744,500$453 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80220 82%768$106,054$805,400$382 pricier homes ($127K more) · larger
Englewood, CO 80113 81%765$96,590$709,100$408 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Richmond, VA 23221 80%1,261$99,816$582,000$405 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Nashville, TN 37206 80%753$96,169$600,200$362 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30306 79%818$123,077$799,800$389 pricier homes ($122K more) · larger
Denver, CO 80210 79%767$127,270$910,200$437 pricier homes ($232K more) · larger
Stamford, CT 06907 78%1,542$106,379$590,000$421 cheaper homes ($88K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Orlando, FL 32803 78%991$107,592$455,600$334 cheaper homes ($223K less) · larger
Orlando, FL 32804 78%988$113,231$561,000$351 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger · more homeowners
Sacramento, CA 95818 78%1,465$118,196$790,200$512 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · older homes
Seattle, WA 98126 78%1,769$116,466$783,700$525 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Waltham, MA 02451 77%1,684$122,335$753,000$487 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger
Madison, WI 53705 77%994$88,549$475,400$340 cheaper homes ($203K less) · larger
Salt Lake City, UT 84105 77%1,072$99,562$686,100$374 larger · older homes
Portland, OR 97202 77%1,705$104,971$700,800$340 larger
Atlanta, GA 30317 76%820$107,955$541,100$351 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Boulder, CO 80305 76%793$126,107$1,032,900$578 pricier homes ($355K more) · larger · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45226 75%968$97,558$408,400$273 cheaper homes ($270K less)
Denver, CO 80211 75%774$121,439$807,100$442 pricier homes ($129K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80222 75%765$86,472$623,400$359 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Portland, OR 97217 75%1,710$100,361$578,700$311 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger
Portland, OR 97225 75%1,712$114,598$751,700$319 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30307 74%819$140,677$727,200$357 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034 73%1,495$104,663$428,600$403 cheaper homes ($250K less) · larger

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.