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 Grand Junction, CO 81503

Grand Junction: median income $75,053, home value $352,100, $274/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Swannanoa, NC 28778 95%1,444$73,408$303,300$256 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Buhl, ID 83316 94%413$69,593$310,300$240 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Kenai, AK 99611 94%2,354$79,757$308,500$245 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Powell, WY 82435 93%396$67,534$362,700$233 Very close on everything we compare
Kingsburg, CA 93631 93%631$79,228$396,800$276 pricier homes ($45K more)
Selah, WA 98942 92%808$84,646$382,300$239 pricier homes ($30K more)
Soldotna, AK 99669 92%2,348$80,980$320,200$269 cheaper homes ($32K less) · newer homes
Maryville, TN 37804 91%1,361$79,025$272,500$215 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Sturgis, SD 57785 91%452$63,897$296,100$221 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Stevens, PA 17578 90%1,710$81,990$314,900$196 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Lander, WY 82520 90%269$76,959$337,700$236 Very close on everything we compare
Bonners Ferry, ID 83805 90%776$70,083$418,900$292 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller
Cottonwood, CA 96022 90%744$89,338$366,700$261 5 min longer commute
Quarryville, PA 17566 89%1,714$78,108$306,200$233 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 6 min longer commute
Laurel, MT 59044 89%459$87,648$346,500$231 Very close on everything we compare
Filer, ID 83328 89%405$70,851$331,300$258 smaller
Roseburg, OR 97471 89%835$71,670$359,200$259 larger · older residents
Yakima, WA 98903 89%810$75,343$287,400$269 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Swanton, VT 05488 88%1,844$77,154$288,700$225 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 88%1,795$90,013$370,500$283 Very close on everything we compare
Ocala, FL 34480 88%1,648$77,557$282,700$184 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Lenoir City, TN 37771 88%1,341$66,938$279,600$214 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older residents
Kaukauna, WI 54130 88%1,099$89,131$260,600$196 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Brainerd, MN 56401 88%884$73,128$261,600$192 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 88%832$70,037$314,700$217 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents

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.