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 78732

Austin: median income $192,500, home value $853,900, $276/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Broomfield, CO 80023 92%774$158,180$869,000$262 lower income ($34K less)
Castle Rock, CO 80108 89%740$181,049$881,700$227 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Alpharetta, GA 30005 88%838$176,957$636,300$236 cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger
Leesburg, VA 20175 86%1,295$174,854$780,600$285 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Pompano Beach, FL 33076 86%1,107$176,641$832,000$351 larger
Glen Allen, VA 23059 85%1,267$157,897$593,700$238 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($260K less) · larger
Alpharetta, GA 30004 85%835$156,100$657,700$249 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger
Chester Springs, PA 19425 84%1,419$211,739$656,700$220 cheaper homes ($197K less) · more homeowners
Davidson, NC 28036 84%1,051$156,496$630,900$313 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($223K less)
Littleton, CO 80130 84%747$158,741$691,800$235 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($162K less)
Chantilly, VA 20152 83%1,296$197,156$766,200$279 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33327 83%1,103$159,388$724,500$412 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($129K less)
Novi, MI 48374 83%1,153$182,827$577,700$222 cheaper homes ($276K less) · more homeowners
Gambrills, MD 21054 82%1,341$163,825$611,000$251 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($243K less)
Littleton, CO 80126 82%749$169,882$782,000$267 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Erie, CO 80516 82%781$168,725$726,700$241 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger · more homeowners
Timnath, CO 80547 82%806$180,492$742,300$244 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Aldie, VA 20105 81%1,293$219,123$858,900$282 higher income ($27K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Snoqualmie, WA 98065 81%1,735$198,216$956,600$459 pricier homes ($103K more) · more homeowners
Sterling, VA 20165 80%1,306$183,076$704,800$295 cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Cary, NC 27519 80%1,161$165,586$670,900$267 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($183K less) · larger
Overland Park, KS 66221 80%614$190,000$711,300$208 cheaper homes ($143K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Bothell, WA 98021 80%1,761$183,786$967,700$475 pricier homes ($114K more) · larger
Vienna, VA 22182 79%1,309$205,108$1,125,900$390 pricier homes ($272K more) · older homes
Apex, NC 27523 79%1,162$135,625$659,300$252 lower income ($57K less) · cheaper homes ($195K less) · 6 min shorter commute

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.