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 78748

Austin: median income $115,213, home value $465,100, $240/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charleston, SC 29414 93%1,061$99,529$417,300$258 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Orlando, FL 32828 92%1,008$101,767$432,100$222 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Tampa, FL 33647 89%943$109,285$472,500$211 less walkable
Gilbert, AZ 85295 89%845$118,467$579,500$262 pricier homes ($114K more)
Raleigh, NC 27603 88%1,173$90,484$383,200$209 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Matthews, NC 28105 88%1,051$108,190$430,800$234 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Chandler, AZ 85286 88%850$121,758$601,900$281 pricier homes ($137K more)
Fresno, CA 93720 88%1,342$105,050$477,800$275 6 min shorter commute
Charlotte, NC 28277 87%1,044$128,627$560,600$269 pricier homes ($96K more)
Winter Garden, FL 34787 87%983$120,365$539,500$254 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger
Broomfield, CO 80020 86%788$117,243$601,800$262 pricier homes ($137K more) · older homes
Broomfield, CO 80021 86%787$110,038$568,000$292 pricier homes ($103K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Huntersville, NC 28078 85%1,047$120,831$473,900$221 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Roswell, GA 30076 85%834$118,170$489,700$231 older homes
Lake Mary, FL 32746 85%995$104,775$462,900$248 older residents
Oviedo, FL 32765 85%1,005$102,167$447,900$246 more homeowners
Orlando, FL 32832 85%1,009$118,856$497,200$233 pricier homes ($32K more) · less walkable
Lexington, KY 40509 85%937$94,804$366,300$191 cheaper homes ($99K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Dublin, OH 43016 85%1,073$109,972$452,000$211 more apartments and townhomes
Durham, NC 27713 84%1,162$100,676$418,400$226 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Colorado Springs, CO 80923 84%719$101,565$475,800$203 smaller
Orlando, FL 32827 83%999$117,483$662,200$284 pricier homes ($197K more) · smaller
Hilliard, OH 43026 83%1,071$111,440$347,900$212 cheaper homes ($117K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 83%1,016$97,051$379,500$224 cheaper homes ($86K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33626 82%929$127,118$577,100$289 pricier homes ($112K more) · smaller · less walkable

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.