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 80302

Boulder: median income $61,698, home value $1,190,800, $604/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Davis, CA 95616 86%885$74,359$895,600$470 cheaper homes ($295K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98105 83%996$74,349$1,312,100$578 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Charleston, SC 29403 74%1,488$66,944$674,000$586 cheaper homes ($517K less) · older residents
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 73%902$60,399$949,700$626 cheaper homes ($241K less) · less walkable
Nashville, TN 37212 72%1,038$95,145$963,800$422 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($227K less)
Los Angeles, CA 90024 72%833$76,583$1,478,500$695 pricier homes ($288K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Austin, TX 78751 71%794$80,915$852,000$470 cheaper homes ($339K less) · smaller · older residents
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 67%1,129$64,231$491,200$393 cheaper homes ($700K less)
Kingston, RI 02881 64%1,759$56,472$575,000$369 cheaper homes ($616K less) · smaller · younger residents
Bozeman, MT 59715 63%487$88,407$848,400$466 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($342K less) · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 62%351$83,916$779,200$375 cheaper homes ($412K less) · older residents
Charlottesville, VA 22903 61%1,439$69,340$526,200$304 cheaper homes ($665K less)
Austin, TX 78756 59%793$94,701$832,000$500 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($359K less) · smaller
Amherst, MA 01002 58%1,704$70,818$481,100$314 cheaper homes ($710K less) · less walkable
Goleta, CA 93117 58%889$90,037$1,082,400$821 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Eugene, OR 97403 58%952$45,417$592,200$330 cheaper homes ($599K less) · smaller
Chapel Hill, NC 27514 57%1,452$92,875$663,900$299 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($527K less) · newer homes
San Diego, CA 92122 57%826$105,177$1,046,300$742 higher income ($43K more) · cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger
Columbus, OH 43212 56%1,174$77,257$533,700$336 cheaper homes ($657K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Flagstaff, AZ 86001 56%483$64,626$589,100$399 cheaper homes ($602K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Pasadena, CA 91106 56%815$90,028$1,040,400$734 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($150K less) · older residents
Bellingham, WA 98225 56%1,038$63,941$631,200$458 cheaper homes ($560K less) · larger · older residents
Raleigh, NC 27607 55%1,473$96,775$707,800$339 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($483K less) · newer homes
San Diego, CA 92116 55%826$98,154$940,700$925 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($250K less) · older residents
Irvine, CA 92617 55%821$91,529$693,700— higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($497K less) · newer homes

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.