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 Athens, GA 30605

Athens: median income $50,062, home value $314,200, $203/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Starkville, MS 39759 92%316$46,398$256,900$173 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Columbia, MO 65201 91%606$48,113$248,400$184 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Greenville, NC 27858 90%359$59,713$251,100$162 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Bowling Green, OH 43402 90%515$52,426$243,100$166 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Fayetteville, AR 72701 90%628$55,506$355,300$218 pricier homes ($41K more)
Morgantown, WV 26505 88%438$45,536$278,000$170 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Stillwater, OK 74075 88%790$46,053$228,100$161 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Iowa City, IA 52240 87%693$52,960$242,300$181 cheaper homes ($72K less) · more homeowners
Laramie, WY 82072 87%1,311$53,863$324,100$200 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Manhattan, KS 66502 85%818$54,833$223,100$153 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Fayetteville, AR 72703 85%630$60,568$391,000$240 pricier homes ($77K more)
Stillwater, OK 74074 85%789$52,998$258,700$164 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Gainesville, FL 32607 84%301$45,987$321,900$180 more walkable
Moscow, ID 83843 84%1,960$59,444$380,600$257 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Central, SC 29630 83%64$55,264$234,500$173 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Lawrence, KS 66047 83%747$65,392$342,300$173 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
San Marcos, TX 78666 83%899$54,737$306,700$173 larger
Storrs Mansfield, CT 06268 82%813$55,219$348,600$220 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · younger residents
Gainesville, FL 32608 82%304$61,588$358,200$206 pricier homes ($44K more) · more walkable
Auburn, AL 36832 82%156$42,717$263,900$210 cheaper homes ($50K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Bloomington, IN 47408 82%405$45,644$346,900$188 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · more walkable
Pullman, WA 99163 82%1,968$48,231$435,900$228 pricier homes ($122K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Boone, NC 28607 81%184$46,639$378,600$314 pricier homes ($64K more) · more homeowners
Clemson, SC 29631 81%60$48,800$400,400$214 pricier homes ($86K more) · smaller
Kalamazoo, MI 49006 81%591$43,639$208,600$159 cheaper homes ($106K less) · smaller · older 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.