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 78735

Austin: median income $139,191, home value $867,500, $323/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Franklin, TN 37067 88%750$111,759$756,300$313 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Lone Tree, CO 80124 87%756$129,858$773,900$272 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 5 min longer commute · more walkable
Atlanta, GA 30342 83%827$124,111$829,400$318 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · more walkable
Charleston, SC 29492 81%1,074$110,509$791,400$409 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($76K less) · 6 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30319 78%829$130,648$762,500$301 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · more walkable
Orlando, FL 32836 78%990$111,987$677,800$307 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($190K less) · more homeowners
Englewood, CO 80112 78%758$108,874$659,200$282 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($208K less) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28211 76%1,046$132,917$774,900$360 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · more walkable
Morrisville, NC 27560 75%1,164$118,417$508,200$225 cheaper homes ($359K less) · larger
Alpharetta, GA 30009 75%834$126,510$640,500$317 cheaper homes ($227K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Chapel Hill, NC 27517 74%1,156$128,683$608,100$284 cheaper homes ($259K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Exton, PA 19341 73%1,419$121,680$509,300$249 cheaper homes ($358K less) · 5 min longer commute · more walkable
Herndon, VA 20171 73%1,304$171,372$797,200$331 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Fort Collins, CO 80528 73%814$130,350$705,000$246 cheaper homes ($163K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Raleigh, NC 27617 72%1,170$110,034$489,600$218 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($378K less)
Charlotte, NC 28277 72%1,043$128,627$560,600$269 cheaper homes ($307K less) · larger · more homeowners
Birmingham, AL 35243 72%687$99,645$538,400$233 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($329K less) · older homes
Englewood, CO 80111 72%759$135,995$916,500$314 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · more homeowners
Bothell, WA 98011 72%1,768$131,667$933,000$486 pricier homes ($66K more) · more walkable
Ashburn, VA 20147 71%1,303$163,904$718,500$311 cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85085 71%868$128,984$669,100$267 cheaper homes ($198K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Issaquah, WA 98029 71%1,752$170,759$1,063,200$525 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($196K more) · 7 min longer commute
Ellicott City, MD 21043 70%1,342$148,125$620,900$272 cheaper homes ($247K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30328 70%826$112,111$561,900$236 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($306K less) · larger
Broomfield, CO 80021 70%782$110,038$568,000$292 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($300K less) · larger

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.