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 72703

Fayetteville: median income $60,568, home value $391,000, $240/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Athens, GA 30606 91%626$63,328$362,500$201 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Chico, CA 95928 90%1,521$64,949$503,100$292 pricier homes ($112K more)
Harrisonburg, VA 22801 88%856$72,067$364,300$202 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Knoxville, TN 37909 88%567$66,984$312,500$223 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Moscow, ID 83843 88%1,384$59,444$380,600$257 less walkable
Wilmington, NC 28403 87%928$54,547$386,700$277 more walkable
Greenville, SC 29607 87%671$74,503$359,500$194 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Gainesville, FL 32608 87%817$61,588$358,200$206 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Henrico, VA 23294 86%924$64,164$294,500$223 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · older homes
Newport News, VA 23606 86%981$72,874$327,200$205 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Lawrence, KS 66047 86%205$65,392$342,300$173 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Denton, TX 76205 86%262$68,600$335,600$196 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · more walkable
Austin, TX 78728 86%440$75,243$437,000$217 pricier homes ($46K more) · 5 min longer commute
Chico, CA 95926 86%1,523$61,920$473,600$286 pricier homes ($83K more) · younger residents · older homes
Athens, GA 30605 85%630$50,062$314,200$203 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Logan, UT 84341 85%1,023$69,310$465,700$203 pricier homes ($75K more) · younger residents
Durham, NC 27707 84%851$74,406$407,800$249 Very close on everything we compare
Blacksburg, VA 24060 83%765$67,675$447,600$237 pricier homes ($57K more) · younger residents
Davenport, IA 52807 83%425$72,579$348,200$180 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Fort Worth, TX 76132 83%300$63,924$396,200$178 6 min longer commute
Provo, UT 84601 83%991$67,207$403,500$249 younger residents
Orlando, FL 32835 82%906$71,418$349,100$211 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 7 min longer commute
Murfreesboro, TN 37130 82%435$62,706$371,800$207 larger · 7 min longer commute
Grand Rapids, MI 49512 82%656$71,329$314,900$190 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Lawrence, KS 66046 82%205$65,478$233,700$199 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller

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.