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 Fort Collins, CO 80526

Fort Collins: median income $88,686, home value $551,800, $273/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jacksonville, FL 32224 93%1,502$88,259$458,100$265 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Olympia, WA 98502 92%1,000$92,207$537,200$326 older residents
Charlotte, NC 28210 91%1,370$100,824$531,700$315 Very close on everything we compare
Austin, TX 78745 91%824$86,109$504,800$291 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Olympia, WA 98501 91%990$97,198$529,300$299 older residents
Charlottesville, VA 22901 89%1,424$92,145$501,700$272 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents
Charlottesville, VA 22902 89%1,429$93,463$436,200$290 cheaper homes ($116K less) · smaller · older residents
Durham, NC 27707 89%1,449$74,406$407,800$249 cheaper homes ($144K less)
Tampa, FL 33611 89%1,552$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older residents
Nashville, TN 37209 89%1,032$81,423$529,800$333 Very close on everything we compare
Knoxville, TN 37919 89%1,186$72,645$526,800$258 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 89%1,113$89,355$406,700$234 cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller
Middleton, WI 53562 89%821$101,381$532,200$270 older residents
Richardson, TX 75080 89%698$92,903$447,100$272 cheaper homes ($105K less) · older homes
Fresno, CA 93720 89%829$105,050$477,800$275 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Tualatin, OR 97062 89%951$105,407$640,300$293 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller
Newark, DE 19711 88%1,546$95,403$398,900$217 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Raleigh, NC 27612 88%1,465$95,988$529,000$261 more apartments and townhomes
Asheville, NC 28803 88%1,273$76,662$452,900$306 cheaper homes ($99K less) · older residents
Maitland, FL 32751 87%1,574$95,387$453,700$291 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller · older residents
Orlando, FL 32819 87%1,577$98,109$489,700$278 cheaper homes ($62K less) · older residents
Dallas, TX 75248 87%696$100,414$576,100$254 older residents
Tempe, AZ 85283 87%623$84,568$442,800$298 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Portland, OR 97223 87%952$106,757$600,300$312 pricier homes ($49K more) · older residents
Raleigh, NC 27609 86%1,468$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($81K less) · more apartments and townhomes

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.