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.

Reset

Towns most like Austin, TX 78750

Austin: median income $121,563, home value $601,800, $299/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlotte, NC 28226 97%1,036$118,606$617,600$282 Very close on everything we compare
Denver, CO 80228 95%763$113,977$641,300$291 pricier homes ($40K more)
Kennett Square, PA 19348 92%1,403$123,526$543,100$231 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Charlotte, NC 28270 92%1,040$131,667$589,500$271 Very close on everything we compare
Longmont, CO 80503 92%790$113,620$755,500$282 pricier homes ($154K more)
Raleigh, NC 27613 91%1,165$123,966$520,600$249 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Dublin, OH 43017 91%1,062$135,922$523,500$226 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80919 91%711$119,518$605,900$214 Very close on everything we compare
Roswell, GA 30076 90%826$118,170$489,700$231 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger
Broomfield, CO 80020 90%774$117,243$601,800$262 larger
West Chester, PA 19380 89%1,411$122,899$564,400$278 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
West Chester, PA 19382 89%1,411$132,091$568,500$282 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Henrico, VA 23233 89%1,263$125,665$479,000$248 cheaper homes ($123K less)
Raleigh, NC 27615 89%1,168$112,754$479,000$241 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger
Charleston, SC 29412 89%1,061$101,509$504,500$355 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Orlando, FL 32836 89%988$111,987$677,800$307 pricier homes ($76K more) · newer homes
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 89%987$134,724$599,900$331 smaller
Golden, CO 80401 89%766$118,039$804,500$350 pricier homes ($203K more)
Phoenix, AZ 85048 89%860$122,833$592,100$289 Very close on everything we compare
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 88%1,657$139,302$592,300$353 6 min longer commute
Foxboro, MA 02035 88%1,674$115,833$606,300$366 smaller
Cary, NC 27513 88%1,158$121,989$519,800$258 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Pembroke Pines, FL 33028 88%1,104$119,091$581,400$335 more homeowners
Tampa, FL 33626 88%929$127,118$577,100$289 newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45249 88%976$105,804$495,000$214 cheaper homes ($107K 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.