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 78756

Austin: median income $94,701, home value $832,000, $500/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 85%1,071$83,916$779,200$375 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85012 83%868$86,620$735,000$370 cheaper homes ($97K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80206 82%767$101,594$915,400$427 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Boise, ID 83702 79%1,367$85,733$777,100$469 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · older residents
Portland, OR 97239 79%1,705$110,134$772,700$321 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · newer homes
Denver, CO 80209 78%766$125,733$1,018,300$513 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($186K more) · larger
Denver, CO 80222 78%763$86,472$623,400$359 cheaper homes ($209K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 78%1,370$96,824$973,000$656 pricier homes ($141K more) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28209 77%1,035$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($209K less) · larger · newer homes
Madison, WI 53705 77%992$88,549$475,400$340 cheaper homes ($357K less) · larger
Englewood, CO 80113 77%762$96,590$709,100$408 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger · less walkable
Boulder, CO 80303 77%790$78,555$961,900$467 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger · younger residents
Nashville, TN 37212 76%748$95,145$963,800$422 pricier homes ($132K more) · larger · younger residents
Boulder, CO 80301 76%793$95,207$793,200$376 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · less walkable
Sacramento, CA 95816 76%1,462$90,839$839,700$504 larger · more renters · older homes
Seattle, WA 98144 76%1,765$96,969$901,700$489 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Nashville, TN 37206 75%753$96,169$600,200$362 cheaper homes ($232K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80205 75%769$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($183K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80211 74%771$121,439$807,100$442 higher income ($27K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85018 74%863$93,885$862,000$517 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98125 74%1,770$99,868$874,300$489 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Bozeman, MT 59715 73%1,280$88,407$848,400$466 larger · more homeowners · less walkable
Richmond, VA 23221 72%1,261$99,816$582,000$405 cheaper homes ($250K less) · larger · older homes
Pasadena, CA 91106 72%1,218$90,028$1,040,400$734 pricier homes ($208K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92110 72%1,157$110,790$1,006,800$631 pricier homes ($175K more) · larger

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.