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 78737

Austin: median income $168,920, home value $765,000, $270/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arvada, CO 80007 93%782$176,122$872,000$242 pricier homes ($107K more)
Littleton, CO 80125 93%757$179,983$762,200$231 smaller
Erie, CO 80516 92%790$168,725$726,700$241 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more walkable
Castle Rock, CO 80108 91%748$181,049$881,700$227 pricier homes ($117K more)
Windham, NH 03087 90%1,705$189,583$723,300$322 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · older homes
Purcellville, VA 20132 90%1,299$181,875$776,300$274 6 min longer commute
Nolensville, TN 37135 90%762$148,819$672,600$283 cheaper homes ($92K less) · 7 min longer commute
Hamel, MN 55340 90%1,054$178,553$639,100$234 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller
Monument, CO 80132 90%729$161,670$773,100$225 Very close on everything we compare
Colorado Springs, CO 80908 90%719$133,965$705,400$237 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($60K less)
Moseley, VA 23120 89%1,258$158,667$569,300$224 cheaper homes ($196K less) · smaller
Apex, NC 27539 89%1,169$145,947$565,600$237 cheaper homes ($199K less)
Waxhaw, NC 28173 89%1,052$150,597$608,000$231 cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger
Castle Rock, CO 80109 89%745$155,025$675,500$224 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Las Vegas, NV 89138 89%1,086$161,645$745,400$338 6 min shorter commute
Odessa, FL 33556 88%936$149,722$625,200$266 cheaper homes ($140K less)
Gilbert, AZ 85298 88%835$156,425$652,400$291 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Ponte Vedra, FL 32081 87%987$131,624$642,500$295 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($123K less)
Novi, MI 48374 87%1,164$182,827$577,700$222 cheaper homes ($187K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85083 87%866$149,087$612,700$267 cheaper homes ($152K less)
Matthews, NC 28104 86%1,056$138,017$533,500$253 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($232K less)
Cumming, GA 30041 86%854$152,564$574,300$219 cheaper homes ($191K less) · larger
Thompsons Station, TN 37179 86%747$136,188$570,200$296 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($195K less)
Galena, OH 43021 86%1,093$167,941$564,700$220 cheaper homes ($200K less) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33327 85%1,103$159,388$724,500$412 cheaper homes ($41K less)

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.