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 78745

Austin: median income $86,109, home value $504,800, $291/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Durham, NC 27707 92%1,160$74,406$407,800$249 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Tampa, FL 33611 91%936$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Fort Collins, CO 80526 91%824$88,686$551,800$273 pricier homes ($47K more)
Tempe, AZ 85283 91%858$84,568$442,800$298 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Atlanta, GA 30341 90%830$86,313$463,100$287 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Raleigh, NC 27609 89%1,174$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28205 89%1,046$75,622$457,200$356 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28210 89%1,041$100,824$531,700$315 pricier homes ($27K more)
Olympia, WA 98502 89%1,780$92,207$537,200$326 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Durham, NC 27705 88%1,160$73,066$455,000$261 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Charleston, SC 29407 88%1,062$85,367$451,800$356 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · older homes
Nashville, TN 37209 88%753$81,423$529,800$333 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller · newer homes
Arvada, CO 80002 88%780$93,362$558,500$322 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85016 88%865$87,850$564,900$363 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Chandler, AZ 85224 88%853$94,516$438,700$298 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Loma Linda, CA 92354 88%1,167$83,847$564,400$356 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Beaverton, OR 97008 88%1,712$96,116$578,100$338 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller
Sacramento, CA 95831 87%1,465$100,751$642,700$346 pricier homes ($138K more)
Charlottesville, VA 22902 86%1,227$93,463$436,200$290 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Longmont, CO 80501 86%802$80,911$488,800$270 more homeowners
Fort Collins, CO 80525 86%822$91,636$588,400$265 pricier homes ($84K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Fresno, CA 93720 86%1,342$105,050$477,800$275 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Hillsboro, OR 97124 86%1,721$110,067$556,300$313 pricier homes ($52K more)
Charlottesville, VA 22901 85%1,224$92,145$501,700$272 smaller · older residents
Asheville, NC 28803 85%959$76,662$452,900$306 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller

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.