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 Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

Steamboat Springs: median income $109,659, home value $1,055,900, $750/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Santa Barbara, CA 93110 79%822$129,209$1,199,500$987 pricier homes ($144K more) · older homes
Park City, UT 84060 77%240$128,295$1,795,000$1,041 pricier homes ($739K more) · smaller
Reno, NV 89511 75%684$124,130$916,600$484 cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger · more single-family homes
San Diego, CA 92128 75%768$131,077$927,100$597 cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Boca Raton, FL 33496 71%1,816$114,885$708,300$473 cheaper homes ($348K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Camarillo, CA 93012 71%795$135,217$841,800$498 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($214K less) · larger
Boca Raton, FL 33486 70%1,822$105,540$664,100$530 cheaper homes ($392K less) · more single-family homes · more walkable
Kihei, HI 96753 70%3,196$88,408$1,033,600$830 larger
Carlsbad, CA 92010 69%770$129,926$1,103,300$639 pricier homes ($47K more) · 13 min longer commute
Carpinteria, CA 93013 69%812$110,359$1,153,600$1,089 pricier homes ($98K more) · 7 min longer commute · more renters
Truckee, CA 96161 69%706$131,702$991,400$644 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more single-family homes
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 68%1,587$111,907$755,100$472 cheaper homes ($301K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Jackson, WY 83001 68%276$124,717$1,669,100$1,299 pricier homes ($613K more) · younger residents · more renters
San Marcos, CA 92078 68%768$120,268$942,300$530 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · younger residents
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 68%759$152,528$906,100$637 higher income ($43K more) · cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger
Tustin, CA 92782 68%763$146,080$1,149,200$700 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Kailua Kona, HI 96740 68%3,218$95,542$760,600$627 cheaper homes ($295K less) · larger
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 67%768$137,639$903,200$685 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($153K less) · larger
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 67%847$151,250$1,136,400$649 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($81K more) · 8 min longer commute
Soquel, CA 95073 67%845$118,169$1,062,800$699 smaller · 9 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Princeville, HI 96722 67%3,294$100,938$1,431,600$974 pricier homes ($376K more) · smaller · older residents
Issaquah, WA 98027 67%884$153,301$996,600$507 higher income ($44K more) · cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Hailey, ID 83333 66%427$99,704$744,200$566 cheaper homes ($312K less) · more single-family homes
Scottsdale, AZ 85255 66%551$140,616$1,036,800$526 higher income ($31K more) · larger · older residents
Scottsdale, AZ 85260 66%557$97,177$698,200$400 cheaper homes ($358K less) · larger · more renters

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.