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 Boulder, CO 80301

Boulder: median income $95,207, home value $793,200, $376/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlotte, NC 28209 92%1,370$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($170K less)
Atlanta, GA 30305 91%1,224$106,907$737,500$391 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Austin, TX 78759 91%788$102,400$674,000$332 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77079 90%894$101,995$679,900$339 cheaper homes ($113K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 88%1,589$100,697$613,600$349 cheaper homes ($180K less) · larger
Austin, TX 78731 87%791$105,494$903,200$420 pricier homes ($110K more) · older residents
Scottsdale, AZ 85251 87%585$92,851$554,400$388 cheaper homes ($239K less) · larger
Portland, OR 97239 87%960$110,134$772,700$321 more walkable
Dallas, TX 75230 86%680$110,956$931,500$359 pricier homes ($138K more) · older residents
Towson, MD 21204 85%1,514$99,606$594,800$261 cheaper homes ($198K less)
Raleigh, NC 27612 85%1,469$95,988$529,000$261 cheaper homes ($264K less) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28210 85%1,371$100,824$531,700$315 cheaper homes ($262K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30342 85%1,223$124,111$829,400$318 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($36K more)
Middleton, WI 53562 85%837$101,381$532,200$270 cheaper homes ($261K less)
Dallas, TX 75248 85%676$100,414$576,100$254 cheaper homes ($217K less) · larger
Raleigh, NC 27609 84%1,471$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($322K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76109 84%669$100,507$630,800$269 cheaper homes ($162K less) · more single-family homes
Scottsdale, AZ 85260 84%578$97,177$698,200$400 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · older residents
Boca Raton, FL 33431 83%1,722$107,896$640,700$427 cheaper homes ($153K less) · younger residents
Tampa, FL 33609 83%1,539$115,844$605,600$361 cheaper homes ($188K less)
Dallas, TX 75244 83%676$120,286$617,800$322 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($175K less) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30328 82%1,221$112,111$561,900$236 cheaper homes ($231K less) · larger
Nashville, TN 37204 82%1,037$109,580$907,500$447 pricier homes ($114K more) · smaller · younger residents
Austin, TX 78723 82%795$100,329$562,300$355 cheaper homes ($231K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85016 82%589$87,850$564,900$363 cheaper homes ($228K less)

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.