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 78730

Austin: median income $158,673, home value $1,014,700, $360/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Issaquah, WA 98027 84%1,745$153,301$996,600$507 larger
Boxborough, MA 01719 83%1,675$144,611$706,900$327 cheaper homes ($308K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Leesburg, VA 20175 79%1,292$174,854$780,600$285 cheaper homes ($234K less) · larger
Malvern, PA 19355 78%1,420$169,417$692,300$315 cheaper homes ($322K less) · larger · older homes
Reston, VA 20194 78%1,303$170,988$827,100$377 cheaper homes ($188K less) · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Broomfield, CO 80023 78%777$158,180$869,000$262 cheaper homes ($146K less) · larger · newer homes
Englewood, CO 80111 78%753$135,995$916,500$314 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · more walkable
Florham Park, NJ 07932 77%1,494$156,458$791,100$530 cheaper homes ($224K less) · more walkable · older homes
Chapel Hill, NC 27517 77%1,152$128,683$608,100$284 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($407K less) · larger
Nashville, TN 37215 77%749$155,863$1,046,500$413 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Oak Park, CA 91377 77%1,249$163,085$1,036,900$571 larger · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Issaquah, WA 98029 76%1,747$170,759$1,063,200$525 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · younger residents
Bedford, MA 01730 75%1,687$172,400$898,500$496 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · more walkable
Sterling, VA 20165 75%1,303$183,076$704,800$295 cheaper homes ($310K less) · larger
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 75%992$134,724$599,900$331 cheaper homes ($415K less) · older homes
Woodinville, WA 98072 75%1,760$175,805$1,122,200$544 pricier homes ($108K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Cary, NC 27518 74%1,162$123,488$632,200$257 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($383K less) · larger
Apex, NC 27523 74%1,158$135,625$659,300$252 cheaper homes ($355K less) · larger
Alpharetta, GA 30009 74%830$126,510$640,500$317 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($374K less) · larger
Lone Tree, CO 80124 74%750$129,858$773,900$272 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($241K less) · larger
Littleton, CO 80129 74%753$141,667$663,800$266 cheaper homes ($351K less) · larger · more walkable
Kenmore, WA 98028 74%1,764$139,764$920,800$474 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · more walkable
Westborough, MA 01581 73%1,665$141,944$685,300$394 cheaper homes ($329K less) · larger · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30327 73%820$189,250$1,136,500$399 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($122K more) · larger
Lincolnshire, IL 60069 73%985$162,826$611,900$276 cheaper homes ($403K less) · older residents · 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.