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 78746

Austin: median income $188,414, home value $1,494,300, $557/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atlanta, GA 30327 87%821$189,250$1,136,500$399 cheaper homes ($358K less) · more homeowners
San Diego, CA 92131 85%1,147$185,256$1,189,100$659 cheaper homes ($305K less) · more homeowners
Woodinville, WA 98072 84%1,763$175,805$1,122,200$544 cheaper homes ($372K less) · 5 min longer commute
Nashville, TN 37215 83%751$155,863$1,046,500$413 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($448K less)
Park City, UT 84098 81%1,053$174,119$1,207,200$685 cheaper homes ($287K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Vienna, VA 22182 80%1,308$205,108$1,125,900$390 cheaper homes ($368K less) · 9 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92127 80%1,147$195,520$1,232,300$676 cheaper homes ($262K less) · larger · younger residents
San Diego, CA 92129 80%1,149$156,321$1,109,600$659 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($385K less) · larger
San Diego, CA 92130 80%1,155$205,680$1,748,100$883 pricier homes ($254K more) · larger · newer homes
Carlsbad, CA 92009 79%1,158$164,182$1,368,100$654 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Carlsbad, CA 92011 78%1,159$159,235$1,302,600$770 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($192K less)
Bellevue, WA 98006 77%1,757$198,150$1,388,500$592 cheaper homes ($106K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Mercer Island, WA 98040 77%1,759$219,069$2M+*$799 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($506K more) · more walkable
Bedford, MA 01730 75%1,689$172,400$898,500$496 cheaper homes ($596K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Incline Village, NV 89451 75%1,395$166,509$1,461,200$763 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Walnut Creek, CA 94598 75%1,476$186,225$1,339,900$665 cheaper homes ($154K less) · 9 min longer commute · older homes
Issaquah, WA 98027 75%1,748$153,301$996,600$507 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($498K less) · 6 min longer commute
Kirkland, WA 98033 75%1,762$182,500$1,491,700$742 more walkable
Vienna, VA 22181 72%1,306$211,911$998,300$402 cheaper homes ($496K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Lake Oswego, OR 97034 72%1,700$149,236$1,047,500$444 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($447K less) · more walkable
Nashville, TN 37205 71%749$139,152$953,300$403 lower income ($49K less) · cheaper homes ($541K less) · older homes
Calabasas, CA 91302 71%1,245$185,636$1,724,500$676 pricier homes ($230K more) · 14 min longer commute
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 70%858$184,979$2M+*$847 pricier homes ($506K more) · smaller · older residents
Encinitas, CA 92024 70%1,158$158,507$1,612,000$993 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($118K more) · larger
Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 70%1,184$195,046$1,020,500$658 cheaper homes ($474K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute

* 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.