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 32603

Gainesville: median income $13,408, home value $329,000, $270/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Knoxville, TN 37916 54%445$14,925$269,800$416 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44115 35%819$22,056$178,000$205 cheaper homes ($151K less) · older residents · older homes
Prairie View, TX 77446 35%817$20,766$250,900— cheaper homes ($78K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Detroit, MI 48201 31%878$24,749$412,600$323 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger · older residents
Champaign, IL 61820 31%796$27,539$184,500$153 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15213 30%758$31,069$233,500$205 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger · more homeowners
Cincinnati, OH 45203 28%665$21,973$356,900$185 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · older residents
New Orleans, LA 70112 28%464$19,395$391,900$408 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller · older residents
Columbia, SC 29201 27%310$32,297$255,800$213 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · more homeowners
Austin, TX 78705 27%922$32,380$647,600$378 pricier homes ($319K more) · larger · more walkable
Madison, WI 53715 23%1,005$38,996$450,600$356 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($122K more) · larger
College Station, TX 77840 21%836$30,377$244,800$178 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger · less walkable
Washington, DC 20006 20%707$35,011$255,200$529 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Lexington, KY 40508 19%593$29,440$182,800$240 cheaper homes ($146K less) · larger · more homeowners
Lincoln, NE 68508 19%1,116$31,191$143,600$329 cheaper homes ($185K less) · larger
Urbana, IL 61801 18%795$36,180$177,100$158 cheaper homes ($152K less) · larger · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43201 17%716$43,731$440,000$272 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($111K more) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45219 17%666$35,657$207,900$164 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55454 17%1,213$23,100$186,600$127 cheaper homes ($142K less) · 10 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Springfield, MA 01103 16%1,018$21,355$185,700$172 cheaper homes ($143K less) · smaller · older residents
Chattanooga, TN 37402 15%411$24,214$268,800$332 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · older residents
Denton, TX 76201 15%905$39,982$257,700$188 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Syracuse, NY 13202 14%987$27,000$88,500$202 cheaper homes ($241K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 14%757$34,897$214,800$211 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · older residents
Milwaukee, WI 53233 14%975$23,750$137,500$146 cheaper homes ($192K less) · larger · 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.