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, FL 32601

Gainesville: median income $30,352, home value $284,300, $254/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pittsburgh, PA 15213 84%758$31,069$233,500$205 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Columbia, SC 29201 82%310$32,297$255,800$213 cheaper homes ($29K less) · newer homes
Madison, WI 53715 80%1,006$38,996$450,600$356 pricier homes ($166K more)
Columbus, OH 43201 76%716$43,731$440,000$272 pricier homes ($156K more)
Urbana, IL 61801 76%795$36,180$177,100$158 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Denton, TX 76201 76%906$39,982$257,700$188 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Tucson, AZ 85719 75%1,701$42,241$304,300$266 larger
Champaign, IL 61820 74%796$27,539$184,500$153 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · newer homes
Lexington, KY 40508 68%594$29,440$182,800$240 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45219 65%667$35,657$207,900$164 cheaper homes ($76K less) · older homes
Bloomington, IN 47408 65%703$45,644$346,900$188 pricier homes ($63K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Syracuse, NY 13210 64%986$41,738$173,600$148 cheaper homes ($111K less) · older homes
Birmingham, AL 35205 62%374$51,158$293,800$235 older residents · older homes
Omaha, NE 68131 59%1,108$48,925$227,200$161 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · older residents
Morgantown, WV 26505 58%704$45,536$278,000$170 larger · less walkable
Minneapolis, MN 55414 58%1,214$51,966$440,500$233 pricier homes ($156K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Provo, UT 84606 57%1,804$52,811$443,600$275 pricier homes ($159K more) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 56%757$34,897$214,800$211 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · older residents
East Lansing, MI 48823 56%912$52,018$282,600$173 larger · more homeowners · less walkable
Madison, WI 53703 55%1,007$47,847$471,800$436 pricier homes ($188K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Minneapolis, MN 55404 55%1,214$41,940$291,600$223 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Eugene, OR 97403 55%2,431$45,417$592,200$330 pricier homes ($308K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Austin, TX 78705 54%923$32,380$647,600$378 pricier homes ($363K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Clemson, SC 29631 53%349$48,800$400,400$214 pricier homes ($116K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Lincoln, NE 68508 53%1,117$31,191$143,600$329 cheaper homes ($141K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes

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.