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 78749

Austin: median income $111,079, home value $585,200, $297/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlotte, NC 28226 95%1,045$118,606$617,600$282 pricier homes ($32K more)
Cary, NC 27513 93%1,167$121,989$519,800$258 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Longmont, CO 80503 91%801$113,620$755,500$282 pricier homes ($170K more)
Cornelius, NC 28031 90%1,049$113,368$547,400$295 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more homeowners
Lafayette, CO 80026 90%790$120,187$705,600$310 pricier homes ($120K more)
Denver, CO 80228 90%774$113,977$641,300$291 pricier homes ($56K more)
Chapel Hill, NC 27516 89%1,153$106,353$567,200$277 more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28277 89%1,044$128,627$560,600$269 larger
Broomfield, CO 80020 89%784$117,243$601,800$262 larger
Henrico, VA 23233 88%1,273$125,665$479,000$248 cheaper homes ($106K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Raleigh, NC 27615 88%1,177$112,754$479,000$241 cheaper homes ($106K less) · more homeowners
Roswell, GA 30076 88%834$118,170$489,700$231 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Orlando, FL 32836 88%991$111,987$677,800$307 pricier homes ($93K more) · less walkable
Cary, NC 27511 87%1,168$107,860$456,000$286 cheaper homes ($129K less)
Cary, NC 27518 87%1,167$123,488$632,200$257 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · older residents
Raleigh, NC 27613 87%1,174$123,966$520,600$249 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Dublin, OH 43017 87%1,074$135,922$523,500$226 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Littleton, CO 80129 87%761$141,667$663,800$266 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($79K more)
Chapel Hill, NC 27517 86%1,158$128,683$608,100$284 5 min shorter commute
Alpharetta, GA 30009 86%835$126,510$640,500$317 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Tampa, FL 33626 86%931$127,118$577,100$289 less walkable
Olympia, WA 98502 86%1,778$92,207$537,200$326 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Raleigh, NC 27614 85%1,178$128,834$577,400$231 more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28270 85%1,048$131,667$589,500$271 more homeowners
Charleston, SC 29412 85%1,067$101,509$504,500$355 cheaper homes ($81K less) · more homeowners

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.