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 78728

Austin: median income $75,243, home value $437,000, $217/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlotte, NC 28262 90%1,037$69,231$346,600$184 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Jacksonville, FL 32256 88%961$73,570$382,500$212 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Orlando, FL 32821 88%985$69,348$309,600$212 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Raleigh, NC 27606 86%1,156$78,371$457,900$247 larger
Lenexa, KS 66219 86%611$94,124$394,400$188 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Fayetteville, AR 72703 86%440$60,568$391,000$240 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Greenville, SC 29607 84%941$74,503$359,500$194 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · more homeowners
Marietta, GA 30067 84%808$83,568$445,900$210 larger · more homeowners · older homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49512 84%1,089$71,329$314,900$190 cheaper homes ($122K less) · more homeowners
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 83%823$79,309$486,800$210 pricier homes ($50K more) · more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28217 82%1,026$64,028$263,300$233 cheaper homes ($174K less)
Atlanta, GA 30318 82%808$83,116$430,600$248 larger · more homeowners · more walkable
Cockeysville, MD 21030 81%1,339$89,015$450,700$233 more homeowners · older homes
Fredericksburg, VA 22401 81%1,270$86,230$483,700$249 pricier homes ($47K more) · 9 min longer commute
Gainesville, FL 32608 81%916$61,588$358,200$206 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43240 81%1,064$82,895$329,200$224 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller
Novi, MI 48377 81%1,144$83,104$350,600$199 cheaper homes ($86K less) · more homeowners
Duluth, GA 30096 80%827$74,656$375,200$200 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30329 80%815$76,579$488,300$229 pricier homes ($51K more) · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Orlando, FL 32835 80%983$71,418$349,100$211 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · more homeowners
Kissimmee, FL 34747 80%979$77,755$462,400$220 pricier homes ($25K more) · more homeowners
Indianapolis, IN 46250 80%925$67,328$327,600$155 cheaper homes ($109K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Lawrence, KS 66047 80%603$65,392$342,300$173 cheaper homes ($95K less) · more homeowners
Harrisonburg, VA 22801 79%1,203$72,067$364,300$202 cheaper homes ($73K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Henrico, VA 23294 79%1,252$64,164$294,500$223 cheaper homes ($143K less) · 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.