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 Gardner, KS 66030

Gardner: median income $97,822, home value $313,100, $200/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Knightdale, NC 27545 96%925$91,527$346,900$180 pricier homes ($34K more)
Grain Valley, MO 64029 93%41$91,704$309,300$186 older residents
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 92%1,012$88,908$343,600$203 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Georgetown, KY 40324 92%561$85,110$289,100$184 larger
Monticello, MN 55362 92%452$91,832$350,200$196 pricier homes ($37K more)
Pasadena, TX 77505 92%633$98,125$294,800$155 Very close on everything we compare
Corpus Christi, TX 78414 92%782$98,771$292,600$168 larger
Midland, TX 79705 92%618$105,310$351,700$188 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Gillette, WY 82718 92%654$104,458$309,000$174 Very close on everything we compare
Idaho Falls, ID 83406 92%942$86,991$392,200$177 pricier homes ($79K more)
Centerton, AR 72719 91%172$113,542$316,200$206 Very close on everything we compare
Waxahachie, TX 75165 91%457$86,391$341,600$176 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Denton, TX 76208 91%405$88,967$369,100$179 pricier homes ($56K more)
Odessa, TX 79765 91%634$104,965$302,300— newer homes
Lakeland, FL 33811 90%1,053$90,263$333,200$190 Very close on everything we compare
Galloway, OH 43119 90%631$91,224$253,600$196 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents
Plainfield, IN 46168 90%460$90,000$297,200$159 older residents
Sartell, MN 56377 90%473$87,172$302,400$167 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64155 90%37$97,471$300,900$189 Very close on everything we compare
Whitehouse, TX 75791 90%455$92,107$267,000$173 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Fountain, CO 80817 90%527$86,543$400,100$198 pricier homes ($87K more)
Winterville, NC 28590 89%989$83,880$266,400$159 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents
Walton, KY 41094 89%553$96,515$293,700$185 smaller · more homeowners
Marysville, OH 43040 89%623$99,321$311,100$189 older residents
Altoona, IA 50009 89%210$88,447$278,300$237 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents

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.