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 32607

Gainesville: median income $45,987, home value $321,900, $180/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Morgantown, WV 26505 90%705$45,536$278,000$170 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Bloomington, IN 47408 87%701$45,644$346,900$188 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
East Lansing, MI 48823 87%912$52,018$282,600$173 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Athens, GA 30605 84%301$50,062$314,200$203 less walkable
Columbia, MO 65201 84%854$48,113$248,400$184 cheaper homes ($74K less) · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Denton, TX 76201 84%902$39,982$257,700$188 cheaper homes ($64K less) · more renters
Wilmington, NC 28403 80%412$54,547$386,700$277 pricier homes ($65K more)
Clemson, SC 29631 80%349$48,800$400,400$214 pricier homes ($79K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Lexington, KY 40517 80%588$53,670$216,900$169 cheaper homes ($105K less) · older residents
Provo, UT 84606 79%1,800$52,811$443,600$275 pricier homes ($122K more) · more renters
Tucson, AZ 85719 78%1,696$42,241$304,300$266 older homes
West Lafayette, IN 47906 77%788$53,103$323,200$186 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Iowa City, IA 52246 77%974$62,521$348,900$176 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Fort Worth, TX 76132 77%910$63,924$396,200$178 pricier homes ($74K more) · older residents
Iowa City, IA 52240 76%972$52,960$242,300$181 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more homeowners
Madison, WI 53713 75%1,003$58,017$255,600$229 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Fayetteville, AR 72701 75%812$55,506$355,300$218 pricier homes ($33K more) · more single-family homes
San Antonio, TX 78240 75%973$63,351$257,500$166 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · older residents
Pullman, WA 99163 75%2,200$48,231$435,900$228 pricier homes ($114K more) · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Oxford, OH 45056 74%694$49,233$250,700$188 cheaper homes ($71K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Baton Rouge, LA 70820 74%527$47,429$286,600$137 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · less walkable
Fayetteville, AR 72703 74%815$60,568$391,000$240 pricier homes ($69K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Dallas, TX 75240 74%878$58,320$395,100$220 pricier homes ($73K more) · older residents · more renters
Dallas, TX 75287 74%882$63,741$405,600$230 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger · older residents
Greenville, NC 27858 73%505$59,713$251,100$162 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · less walkable

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.