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, GA 30504

Gainesville: median income $75,885, home value $351,600, $194/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Charleston, SC 29420 93%236$72,661$331,700$190 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 93%309$70,711$321,300$217 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Brandon, FL 33510 93%446$74,245$328,200$216 Very close on everything we compare
Clermont, FL 34714 92%423$75,392$387,300$217 pricier homes ($36K more) · 5 min longer commute
Smyrna, TN 37167 92%189$84,351$365,400$220 larger
Salisbury, MD 21801 91%539$71,313$327,700$177 Very close on everything we compare
Rock Hill, SC 29730 91%169$68,543$259,700$196 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Sanford, FL 32773 91%410$70,442$287,700$210 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76135 91%787$74,621$275,100$174 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Harker Heights, TX 76548 91%829$80,520$287,800$142 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Austin, TX 78724 91%849$77,926$344,000$220 newer homes
Panama City, FL 32404 90%301$74,708$273,500$177 cheaper homes ($78K less) · more homeowners
Cleburne, TX 76033 90%792$76,292$253,800$163 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Prosser, WA 99350 90%2,043$81,014$338,500$244 smaller
Batavia, OH 45103 89%334$79,793$264,200$182 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more homeowners
Rogers, AR 72756 89%594$72,230$269,200$212 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Siloam Springs, AR 72761 89%615$76,122$236,600$177 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Lancaster, TX 75146 89%752$68,071$263,900$150 cheaper homes ($88K less) · 5 min longer commute
Waxahachie, TX 75165 89%759$86,391$341,600$176 larger
Visalia, CA 93292 89%1,991$82,872$365,700$238 larger · more single-family homes
Chowchilla, CA 93610 89%2,039$68,083$373,000$203 more single-family homes
Raleigh, NC 27610 88%316$67,932$293,000$198 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Durham, NC 27704 88%308$69,668$311,500$205 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Charlotte, NC 28216 88%184$65,795$287,000$202 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Ladson, SC 29456 88%233$78,361$270,100$183 cheaper homes ($82K 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.