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 Fayetteville, AR 72701

Fayetteville: median income $55,506, home value $355,300, $218/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Athens, GA 30605 90%628$50,062$314,200$203 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Greenville, NC 27858 88%941$59,713$251,100$162 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Logan, UT 84321 88%1,026$69,148$400,500$215 pricier homes ($45K more)
Stillwater, OK 74074 87%162$52,998$258,700$164 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Rexburg, ID 83440 87%1,074$58,159$419,300$203 pricier homes ($64K more)
Provo, UT 84601 86%993$67,207$403,500$249 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Boone, NC 28607 85%696$46,639$378,600$314 Very close on everything we compare
Iowa City, IA 52240 85%411$52,960$242,300$181 cheaper homes ($113K less)
Chico, CA 95926 85%1,525$61,920$473,600$286 pricier homes ($118K more) · older homes
Harrisonburg, VA 22801 84%856$72,067$364,300$202 more walkable
Statesboro, GA 30458 84%749$52,038$231,300$177 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Oxford, OH 45056 84%566$49,233$250,700$188 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller
Logan, UT 84341 84%1,026$69,310$465,700$203 pricier homes ($110K more) · smaller
Bowling Green, OH 43402 83%675$52,426$243,100$166 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · older homes
Moscow, ID 83843 83%1,387$59,444$380,600$257 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller · older residents
Athens, GA 30606 82%624$63,328$362,500$201 older residents
Murfreesboro, TN 37130 82%434$62,706$371,800$207 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Cookeville, TN 38501 82%480$52,145$284,600$199 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older residents
Starkville, MS 39759 82%352$46,398$256,900$173 cheaper homes ($98K less) · less walkable
Manhattan, KS 66502 82%255$54,833$223,100$153 cheaper homes ($132K less) · older homes
San Marcos, TX 78666 82%480$54,737$306,700$173 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
West Lafayette, IN 47906 81%496$53,103$323,200$186 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Stillwater, OK 74075 81%163$46,053$228,100$161 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28213 80%753$58,146$282,900$192 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Wilmington, NC 28403 80%927$54,547$386,700$277 pricier homes ($31K more) · more 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.