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 78753

Austin: median income $65,170, home value $371,300, $233/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlotte, NC 28217 92%1,028$64,028$263,300$233 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller
Hollywood, FL 33025 90%1,101$68,743$364,800$277 Very close on everything we compare
Charlotte, NC 28262 88%1,039$69,231$346,600$184 Very close on everything we compare
Mesa, AZ 85201 88%857$67,294$328,800$252 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older homes
Duluth, GA 30096 87%829$74,656$375,200$200 Very close on everything we compare
Winter Park, FL 32792 87%992$69,200$374,200$256 more homeowners
Orlando, FL 32835 87%982$71,418$349,100$211 more homeowners
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 87%1,102$66,100$383,400$347 smaller
West Palm Beach, FL 33409 86%1,096$67,073$320,500$232 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85008 86%866$66,353$358,000$288 older homes
Atlanta, GA 30340 85%822$62,748$344,000$204 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · older homes
Orlando, FL 32821 85%985$69,348$309,600$212 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85021 84%872$59,768$470,400$321 pricier homes ($99K more) · older homes
Mesa, AZ 85210 84%856$61,957$337,800$260 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Charlotte, NC 28206 83%1,034$61,818$298,600$259 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 83%985$70,955$325,300$204 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Kissimmee, FL 34741 83%989$52,409$306,400$190 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 6 min longer commute
Nashville, TN 37217 83%750$62,796$317,400$193 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · older homes
Harrisonburg, VA 22801 82%1,206$72,067$364,300$202 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Henrico, VA 23294 82%1,255$64,164$294,500$223 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Charlotte, NC 28213 82%1,038$58,146$282,900$192 cheaper homes ($88K less) · more single-family homes
Orlando, FL 32822 82%994$56,540$255,000$199 cheaper homes ($116K less) · older residents
Tampa, FL 33617 82%935$50,948$296,900$214 cheaper homes ($74K less) · older homes
Fayetteville, AR 72703 82%445$60,568$391,000$240 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Everett, WA 98204 82%1,775$68,513$414,000$353 pricier homes ($43K 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.