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 78727

Austin: median income $110,379, home value $540,400, $272/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Broomfield, CO 80021 93%775$110,038$568,000$292 pricier homes ($28K more)
Exton, PA 19341 92%1,407$121,680$509,300$249 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Englewood, CO 80112 91%751$108,874$659,200$282 pricier homes ($119K more)
Raleigh, NC 27612 89%1,161$95,988$529,000$261 Very close on everything we compare
Franklin, TN 37067 89%738$111,759$756,300$313 pricier homes ($216K more)
Middleton, WI 53562 89%986$101,381$532,200$270 Very close on everything we compare
Birmingham, AL 35243 88%676$99,645$538,400$233 smaller
Dublin, OH 43016 88%1,057$109,972$452,000$211 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28210 86%1,031$100,824$531,700$315 larger · more homeowners
Atlanta, GA 30328 86%815$112,111$561,900$236 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, FL 32224 86%970$88,259$458,100$265 cheaper homes ($82K less) · more homeowners
Raleigh, NC 27617 85%1,159$110,034$489,600$218 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Nashville, TN 37209 85%741$81,423$529,800$333 lower income ($29K less)
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 85%1,126$89,355$406,700$234 cheaper homes ($134K less) · more homeowners
Overland Park, KS 66213 85%610$117,706$465,900$180 cheaper homes ($75K less) · more homeowners
Naperville, IL 60563 84%948$109,783$435,600$271 cheaper homes ($105K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Overland Park, KS 66223 84%608$114,855$437,500$186 cheaper homes ($103K less) · more homeowners
Lone Tree, CO 80124 84%749$129,858$773,900$272 pricier homes ($234K more)
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 83%1,421$116,847$429,300$278 cheaper homes ($111K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Durham, NC 27713 83%1,149$100,676$418,400$226 cheaper homes ($122K less) · larger · more homeowners
Fort Collins, CO 80526 83%813$88,686$551,800$273 more homeowners
Charlottesville, VA 22901 82%1,212$92,145$501,700$272 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Morrisville, NC 27560 82%1,152$118,417$508,200$225 cheaper homes ($32K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Smyrna, GA 30080 82%808$91,957$450,400$227 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Orlando, FL 32819 82%986$98,109$489,700$278 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more homeowners

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.