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 78733

Austin: median income $206,368, home value $1,008,600, $407/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Southborough, MA 01772 86%1,673$201,568$841,700$354 cheaper homes ($167K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Warren, NJ 07059 86%1,488$212,479$921,500$440 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Chester, NJ 07930 86%1,484$240,954$771,200$361 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($237K less) · 5 min longer commute
Franklin, TN 37069 86%744$157,939$815,600$349 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($193K less) · larger
Woodinville, WA 98077 86%1,757$184,306$1,206,400$546 pricier homes ($198K more) · larger
Saunderstown, RI 02874 85%1,659$159,861$713,700$396 lower income ($47K less) · cheaper homes ($295K less)
Clifton, VA 20124 85%1,300$221,060$884,800$300 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Clarksville, MD 21029 85%1,332$243,542$912,100$285 higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Granite Bay, CA 95746 85%1,444$183,305$1,099,500$430 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger
Colts Neck, NJ 07722 84%1,496$198,994$917,200$474 cheaper homes ($91K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33332 84%1,102$172,730$909,000$395 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($100K less) · 7 min longer commute
Groton, MA 01450 83%1,680$193,292$743,400$325 cheaper homes ($265K less) · 6 min longer commute
Harvard, MA 01451 83%1,676$214,792$856,200$349 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Redmond, WA 98053 83%1,752$192,292$1,213,600$615 pricier homes ($205K more) · larger
Snoqualmie, WA 98065 83%1,739$198,216$956,600$459 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Boxford, MA 01921 81%1,707$200,672$904,200$357 cheaper homes ($104K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Topsfield, MA 01983 81%1,709$195,718$853,400$402 cheaper homes ($155K less) · older homes
Windham, NH 03087 81%1,697$189,583$723,300$322 cheaper homes ($285K less) · larger
Saddle River, NJ 07458 81%1,518$244,022$1,188,500$501 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($180K more) · 8 min longer commute
Westford, MA 01886 80%1,685$187,198$748,500$371 cheaper homes ($260K less) · larger
Highland, MD 20777 80%1,330$226,146$861,900$282 cheaper homes ($147K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Fairfax Station, VA 22039 80%1,303$250,000+*$1,021,500$309 higher income ($44K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Lake Forest, IL 60045 80%992$233,125$923,500$404 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Golden, CO 80403 80%778$151,276$838,000$344 lower income ($55K less) · cheaper homes ($171K less) · larger
Newfields, NH 03856 79%1,718$197,885$646,400$371 cheaper homes ($362K less) · smaller

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.