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 78729

Austin: median income $86,438, home value $476,200, $229/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Smyrna, GA 30080 91%811$91,957$450,400$227 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Raleigh, NC 27606 90%1,160$78,371$457,900$247 Very close on everything we compare
Durham, NC 27705 90%1,151$73,066$455,000$261 larger
Nashville, TN 37209 90%742$81,423$529,800$333 pricier homes ($54K more)
Marietta, GA 30067 89%813$83,568$445,900$210 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older homes
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 89%828$79,309$486,800$210 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, GA 30318 89%812$83,116$430,600$248 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · more walkable
Atlanta, GA 30350 88%821$88,118$516,000$194 pricier homes ($40K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Jacksonville, FL 32224 88%973$88,259$458,100$265 more homeowners
Gainesville, FL 32606 88%920$87,953$347,800$189 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Columbus, OH 43235 88%1,066$86,666$383,500$206 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Raleigh, NC 27612 87%1,163$95,988$529,000$261 pricier homes ($53K more) · more homeowners
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 87%1,126$89,355$406,700$234 cheaper homes ($70K less) · more homeowners
Farmington, MI 48335 87%1,148$99,439$391,500$208 cheaper homes ($85K less) · older homes
Madison, WI 53719 87%981$92,052$367,000$242 cheaper homes ($109K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Cockeysville, MD 21030 86%1,343$89,015$450,700$233 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30341 86%823$86,313$463,100$287 more walkable
Lenexa, KS 66219 86%612$94,124$394,400$188 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Novi, MI 48377 85%1,147$83,104$350,600$199 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller
Durham, NC 27707 84%1,151$74,406$407,800$249 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Greenville, SC 29607 84%945$74,503$359,500$194 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger
Lawrence, KS 66049 84%605$90,147$393,400$190 cheaper homes ($83K less) · more homeowners
Broomfield, CO 80021 84%772$110,038$568,000$292 pricier homes ($92K more)
Exton, PA 19341 83%1,408$121,680$509,300$249 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($33K more)
Raleigh, NC 27609 83%1,166$83,065$471,200$311 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.