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.

Reset

Towns most like Salida, CO 81201

Salida: median income $80,248, home value $674,000, $428/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Whitefish, MT 59937 94%800$75,428$698,200$567 larger
Blowing Rock, NC 28605 89%1,341$76,477$552,400$507 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 86%1,669$86,193$437,500$368 cheaper homes ($237K less)
McCall, ID 83638 86%680$75,217$730,400$484 pricier homes ($56K more)
Carson City, NV 89703 86%742$85,230$626,500$330 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents
Bar Harbor, ME 04609 85%1,978$77,180$538,400$376 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller
Missoula, MT 59804 85%708$76,266$588,400$351 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Friday Harbor, WA 98250 85%1,097$88,556$801,200$492 pricier homes ($127K more) · older residents
Lake Placid, NY 12946 84%1,695$77,548$467,000$363 cheaper homes ($207K less) · smaller
Hailey, ID 83333 84%553$99,704$744,200$566 pricier homes ($70K more)
Jacksonville, OR 97530 84%930$89,239$617,400$313 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 6 min longer commute
Anacortes, WA 98221 84%1,077$96,528$713,100$419 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Stowe, VT 05672 83%1,759$93,618$647,800$433 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Asheville, NC 28804 83%1,303$88,312$566,000$324 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Sandpoint, ID 83864 83%857$70,496$516,500$381 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger
Ivins, UT 84738 83%431$77,993$592,900$344 cheaper homes ($81K less) · newer homes
Traverse City, MI 49684 82%1,129$80,788$420,200$332 cheaper homes ($254K less) · larger
Durham, CA 95938 82%849$82,974$611,700$368 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · older homes
Saint Michaels, MD 21663 81%1,600$89,775$650,500$438 smaller · older residents
Sedona, AZ 86336 81%408$68,435$774,800$468 pricier homes ($101K more) · older residents
Hood River, OR 97031 81%935$91,858$691,200$409 larger · younger residents
Camden, ME 04843 80%1,937$82,344$520,600$375 cheaper homes ($153K less) · smaller · older homes
Manhattan, MT 59741 80%571$90,947$615,200$382 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · younger residents
Moab, UT 84532 80%191$68,444$549,400$392 cheaper homes ($125K less) · younger residents
Philomath, OR 97370 80%989$88,091$463,200$279 cheaper homes ($211K less)

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.