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 78736

Austin: median income $93,805, home value $573,100, $293/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Las Vegas, NV 89144 89%1,084$104,511$548,000$302 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Eugene, OR 97408 88%1,673$104,945$539,600$327 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Liberty Lake, WA 99019 88%1,575$120,053$617,800$267 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($45K more)
Garden City, ID 83714 87%1,371$87,651$496,800$336 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Williston, VT 05495 86%1,668$107,054$470,300$288 cheaper homes ($103K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Cornelius, NC 28031 86%1,051$113,368$547,400$295 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45249 86%990$105,804$495,000$214 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Essex Junction, VT 05452 85%1,671$101,349$432,400$265 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger
Getzville, NY 14068 85%1,376$98,750$365,300$221 cheaper homes ($208K less) · older homes
Asheville, NC 28804 85%964$88,312$566,000$324 larger · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Charleston, SC 29412 85%1,071$101,509$504,500$355 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Orlando, FL 32836 85%995$111,987$677,800$307 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger
Olympia, WA 98502 85%1,774$92,207$537,200$326 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Warrenton, VA 20186 84%1,280$97,801$523,400$258 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Waunakee, WI 53597 84%1,008$117,000$493,200$243 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Longmont, CO 80503 84%797$113,620$755,500$282 pricier homes ($182K more) · larger
Philomath, OR 97370 84%1,701$88,091$463,200$279 cheaper homes ($110K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Waterbury, VT 05676 83%1,679$92,773$380,800$269 cheaper homes ($192K less) · smaller · older homes
Savannah, GA 31410 83%1,007$97,807$407,700$259 cheaper homes ($165K less) · larger · more homeowners
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33323 83%1,107$113,481$482,200$334 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
Palm Harbor, FL 34685 83%929$94,688$518,000$251 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · older residents
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077 83%1,041$111,967$540,900$207 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Albuquerque, NM 87113 83%609$95,922$385,200$248 cheaper homes ($188K less) · larger
Reno, NV 89523 83%1,396$99,061$607,300$352 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Portland, OR 97224 83%1,703$98,125$599,600$288 pricier homes ($27K more) · 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.