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 Belgrade, MT 59714

Belgrade: median income $96,183, home value $548,600, $316/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Olympia, WA 98516 96%561$98,892$572,500$322 Very close on everything we compare
North Salt Lake, UT 84054 94%343$101,860$505,500$265 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Redmond, OR 97756 93%501$87,278$489,900$318 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Olympia, WA 98512 93%571$101,530$472,100$316 cheaper homes ($77K less) · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85024 92%839$106,724$471,000$303 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Ferndale, WA 98248 92%576$91,060$589,600$373 pricier homes ($41K more)
Lynden, WA 98264 92%572$103,638$609,100$341 pricier homes ($61K more)
Meridian, ID 83642 91%298$96,909$533,600$280 larger
Washington, UT 84780 91%610$91,963$570,800$279 Very close on everything we compare
Las Vegas, NV 89149 90%691$101,697$512,700$243 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Vancouver, WA 98686 90%553$107,801$596,700$294 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents
Chico, CA 95973 89%682$92,813$489,900$313 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Greenacres, WA 99016 89%313$103,472$477,400$263 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Grand Junction, CO 81505 88%479$90,830$467,800$294 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · older residents
Gypsum, CO 81637 88%473$109,209$616,200$397 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Saint George, UT 84790 88%614$91,054$552,700$258 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Reno, NV 89523 88%620$99,061$607,300$352 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · older residents
Indio, CA 92203 88%874$97,311$553,700$263 older residents
Hillsboro, OR 97123 88%570$109,985$538,500$298 larger · more walkable
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815 87%299$77,864$498,300$313 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Post Falls, ID 83854 87%305$82,742$489,800$291 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Heber City, UT 84032 87%365$103,440$731,800$340 pricier homes ($183K more)
Salem, OR 97306 87%581$101,753$463,100$267 cheaper homes ($86K less) · more walkable
Kennewick, WA 99338 87%391$111,042$551,500$275 more single-family homes
Pineville, NC 28134 86%1,741$85,681$383,800$230 cheaper homes ($165K 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.