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 78723

Austin: median income $100,329, home value $562,300, $355/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Phoenix, AZ 85016 93%869$87,850$564,900$363 Very close on everything we compare
Charlotte, NC 28210 92%1,032$100,824$531,700$315 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Atlanta, GA 30341 92%821$86,313$463,100$287 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Arvada, CO 80002 92%777$93,362$558,500$322 smaller
Alexandria, VA 22312 90%1,304$109,272$604,200$325 pricier homes ($42K more)
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 89%1,324$100,697$613,600$349 pricier homes ($51K more)
Tampa, FL 33611 89%931$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($83K less) · older residents
Raleigh, NC 27609 88%1,165$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($91K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Nashville, TN 37206 88%751$96,169$600,200$362 pricier homes ($38K more) · older homes
Broomfield, CO 80021 88%783$110,038$568,000$292 less walkable · newer homes
Beaverton, OR 97008 88%1,711$96,116$578,100$338 older residents
Hillsboro, OR 97124 88%1,721$110,067$556,300$313 newer homes
Denver, CO 80222 87%765$86,472$623,400$359 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller · older homes
Beaverton, OR 97006 87%1,716$104,790$549,200$300 newer homes
Seattle, WA 98125 87%1,773$99,868$874,300$489 pricier homes ($312K more)
Tacoma, WA 98466 87%1,763$101,778$602,400$351 pricier homes ($40K more) · older residents
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 86%1,493$96,725$616,300$447 pricier homes ($54K more) · older residents
Charlotte, NC 28209 86%1,033$101,873$623,000$446 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Nashville, TN 37209 86%744$81,423$529,800$333 cheaper homes ($33K less) · newer homes
Redlands, CA 92373 86%1,167$101,271$765,700$386 pricier homes ($203K more) · less walkable
Sacramento, CA 95831 86%1,467$100,751$642,700$346 pricier homes ($80K more) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98133 86%1,775$93,662$770,300$459 pricier homes ($208K more)
Parsippany, NJ 07054 85%1,490$104,214$587,000$387 older residents · older homes
Naperville, IL 60563 85%954$109,783$435,600$271 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Denver, CO 80224 85%766$86,352$604,000$274 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · older homes

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.