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, GA 30506

Gainesville: median income $97,413, home value $390,500, $214/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 93%329$100,396$388,000$221 smaller
Apopka, FL 32712 93%414$108,734$422,700$208 pricier homes ($32K more)
Valparaiso, IN 46385 93%521$98,957$331,700$173 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Powhatan, VA 23139 92%400$110,349$405,000$249 smaller
Land O Lakes, FL 34639 92%432$101,486$383,500$211 Very close on everything we compare
Fenton, MI 48430 92%582$100,193$326,400$210 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Granbury, TX 76049 92%808$104,967$363,300$196 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents
Tucson, AZ 85743 92%1,577$90,093$356,300$221 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Tehachapi, CA 93561 92%1,953$87,357$408,800$252 Very close on everything we compare
Winchester, VA 22602 91%454$101,398$379,700$214 younger residents
Gloucester, VA 23061 91%462$91,626$344,500$239 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Smithfield, VA 23430 91%445$104,065$367,400$208 smaller
Youngsville, NC 27596 91%327$95,940$377,600$192 smaller
Oxford, MI 48371 91%586$111,239$370,200$196 smaller
Weatherford, TX 76087 91%802$114,306$383,200$210 Very close on everything we compare
Pueblo, CO 81007 91%1,192$96,713$396,800$189 5 min shorter commute
Valrico, FL 33594 90%454$96,628$346,900$206 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Soddy Daisy, TN 37379 90%95$88,875$307,300$217 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller
Hernando, MS 38632 90%350$93,583$322,000$167 cheaper homes ($69K less) · younger residents
Pinckney, MI 48169 90%560$109,329$373,400$236 smaller
Gastonia, NC 28056 89%168$90,427$315,000$180 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Clover, SC 29710 89%160$96,563$386,800$194 Very close on everything we compare
Navarre, FL 32566 89%323$105,551$385,100$223 younger residents
Riverview, FL 33569 89%459$105,275$372,500$206 smaller
Crown Point, IN 46307 89%524$107,800$324,100$182 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger

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.