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 80303

Boulder: median income $78,555, home value $961,900, $467/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Davis, CA 95616 89%887$74,359$895,600$470 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · younger residents
Nashville, TN 37212 84%1,036$95,145$963,800$422 younger residents · more walkable
Austin, TX 78751 81%792$80,915$852,000$470 cheaper homes ($110K less) · more renters
Chapel Hill, NC 27514 80%1,449$92,875$663,900$299 cheaper homes ($298K less) · younger residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 80%353$83,916$779,200$375 cheaper homes ($183K less) · older residents · older homes
Bozeman, MT 59715 78%490$88,407$848,400$466 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Charlotte, NC 28209 77%1,371$101,873$623,000$446 cheaper homes ($339K less) · newer homes
Austin, TX 78756 77%790$94,701$832,000$500 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller · older residents
Raleigh, NC 27607 76%1,471$96,775$707,800$339 cheaper homes ($254K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98105 76%999$74,349$1,312,100$578 pricier homes ($350K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
San Diego, CA 92122 75%827$105,177$1,046,300$742 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($84K more) · larger
Amherst, MA 01002 74%1,702$70,818$481,100$314 cheaper homes ($481K less)
Tampa, FL 33606 74%1,541$120,729$845,600$551 higher income ($42K more) · cheaper homes ($116K less) · newer homes
Nashville, TN 37204 74%1,038$109,580$907,500$447 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78704 74%794$106,897$916,100$507 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Charlottesville, VA 22903 73%1,437$69,340$526,200$304 cheaper homes ($436K less) · larger
Columbus, OH 43212 73%1,172$77,257$533,700$336 cheaper homes ($428K less) · more renters
Houston, TX 77079 72%892$101,995$679,900$339 cheaper homes ($282K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Charleston, SC 29403 71%1,486$66,944$674,000$586 cheaper homes ($288K less) · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30305 71%1,225$106,907$737,500$391 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($224K less) · older residents
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 70%1,127$64,231$491,200$393 cheaper homes ($471K less) · larger · younger residents
Madison, WI 53705 70%842$88,549$475,400$340 cheaper homes ($487K less) · older residents
Irvine, CA 92617 70%822$91,529$693,700— cheaper homes ($268K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Towson, MD 21204 69%1,516$99,606$594,800$261 cheaper homes ($367K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Fort Worth, TX 76109 69%667$100,507$630,800$269 cheaper homes ($331K less) · more single-family 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.