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 Gainesville, VA 20155

Gainesville: median income $164,279, home value $659,100, $252/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Frederick, MD 21704 94%39$161,063$612,000$227 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Bowie, MD 20720 91%46$158,997$564,600$216 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Gambrills, MD 21054 91%53$163,825$611,000$251 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Odessa, FL 33556 91%791$149,722$625,200$266 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more single-family homes
Aurora, CO 80016 89%1,447$150,492$761,700$200 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger
Castle Rock, CO 80104 89%1,455$134,335$624,200$222 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($35K less)
Apex, NC 27539 87%224$145,947$565,600$237 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Castle Rock, CO 80108 87%1,455$181,049$881,700$227 pricier homes ($223K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Castle Rock, CO 80109 87%1,458$155,025$675,500$224 6 min shorter commute
Mars, PA 16046 86%183$151,560$481,300$212 cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller
Suwanee, GA 30024 86%485$143,879$551,000$207 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Cumming, GA 30041 86%480$152,564$574,300$219 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Plainfield, IL 60585 86%592$155,511$453,200$216 cheaper homes ($206K less) · more single-family homes
Parker, CO 80134 86%1,454$146,778$677,700$225 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Parker, CO 80138 86%1,447$145,013$723,600$230 pricier homes ($65K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Collegeville, PA 19426 85%150$151,748$498,700$250 cheaper homes ($160K less) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Middletown, DE 19709 85%114$132,956$470,900$205 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($188K less)
Bowie, MD 20721 85%45$163,105$580,200$214 cheaper homes ($79K less) · older residents
Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 85%429$133,357$736,400$362 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($77K more)
Roanoke, TX 76262 85%1,164$151,250$577,100$248 cheaper homes ($82K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Broomfield, CO 80023 85%1,459$158,180$869,000$262 pricier homes ($210K more)
Doylestown, PA 18902 84%171$161,267$668,200$301 smaller · older residents
Bel Air, MD 21015 84%86$137,281$443,400$211 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($216K less) · older homes
Wake Forest, NC 27587 84%202$133,743$497,800$203 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($161K less) · larger
Davidson, NC 28036 84%289$156,496$630,900$313 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute

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.