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 Wendell, ID 83355

Wendell: median income $65,764, home value $283,300, $227/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Willows, CA 95988 93%451$66,339$297,200$241 larger
Soap Lake, WA 98851 93%395$63,333$242,800$234 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Hamilton City, CA 95951 91%432$70,294$330,100$285 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Ephrata, WA 98823 90%391$73,074$267,300$223 larger
Eminence, KY 40019 89%1,571$60,761$220,200$165 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Christiana, PA 17509 88%1,999$77,238$331,600$215 pricier homes ($48K more) · younger residents
Bowling Green, VA 22427 88%1,986$81,488$315,700$214 pricier homes ($32K more)
Commerce, GA 30529 88%1,779$62,168$242,500$186 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Farmersville, CA 93223 88%506$60,661$248,500$268 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · younger residents
Terra Bella, CA 93270 88%523$67,136$308,100$145 Very close on everything we compare
Brewster, WA 98812 88%444$59,297$354,500$273 pricier homes ($71K more)
Grandview, WA 98930 88%352$64,583$303,500$251 larger
Holtville, CA 92250 87%688$72,143$324,400$265 pricier homes ($41K more)
Corning, CA 96021 87%434$59,592$314,000$246 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Boardman, OR 97818 87%326$61,523$275,700$226 more apartments and townhomes
Belleville, PA 17004 86%1,899$65,068$206,900$162 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Jonestown, PA 17038 86%1,964$75,417$252,600$193 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Gordonville, PA 17529 86%1,992$80,050$362,100$232 pricier homes ($79K more)
Fort Morgan, CO 80701 86%590$70,302$347,600$189 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Riverdale, CA 93656 86%516$72,333$294,600$228 more renters
Jamestown, CA 95327 86%453$68,040$372,300$270 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · older residents
Orland, CA 95963 86%444$68,091$372,900$259 pricier homes ($90K more) · larger
Wapato, WA 98951 86%379$63,356$230,400$184 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
South Pittsburg, TN 37380 85%1,638$59,304$194,500$218 cheaper homes ($89K less) · older residents
Mount Pleasant, TN 38474 85%1,548$59,724$247,000$223 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · 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.