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 Idaho Falls, ID 83406

Idaho Falls: median income $86,991, home value $392,200, $177/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Knightdale, NC 27545 96%1,845$91,527$346,900$180 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Sartell, MN 56377 95%885$87,172$302,400$167 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Pineville, NC 28134 94%1,749$85,681$383,800$230 Very close on everything we compare
Veradale, WA 99037 94%383$87,713$459,500$206 pricier homes ($67K more)
Melbourne, FL 32904 93%2,034$90,673$366,300$208 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · older residents
Sioux Falls, SD 57110 93%767$88,955$396,100$206 Very close on everything we compare
Denton, TX 76208 93%1,072$88,967$369,100$179 larger
Holmen, WI 54636 92%1,032$96,384$321,500$182 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Gardner, KS 66030 92%942$97,822$313,100$200 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Winterville, NC 28590 91%1,908$83,880$266,400$159 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Pooler, GA 31322 91%1,838$91,344$312,200$180 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Lynn Haven, FL 32444 91%1,707$83,160$331,000$199 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Plainfield, IN 46168 91%1,342$90,000$297,200$159 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger
Kansas City, MO 64155 91%945$97,471$300,900$189 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Denton, TX 76207 91%1,066$85,330$390,900$224 Very close on everything we compare
Fishersville, VA 22939 90%1,752$84,209$361,500$205 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 90%1,939$88,908$343,600$203 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Daphne, AL 36526 90%1,588$88,750$322,100$177 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Knoxville, TN 37931 90%1,559$92,150$359,600$208 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Georgetown, KY 40324 90%1,471$85,110$289,100$184 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger
Blacklick, OH 43004 90%1,514$101,175$335,400$195 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Grand Rapids, MI 49534 90%1,314$81,657$306,700$207 cheaper homes ($86K less) · older homes
La Vista, NE 68128 90%826$86,410$291,300$171 cheaper homes ($101K less) · more renters
Hewitt, TX 76643 90%1,156$83,511$273,300$176 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Austin, TX 78747 90%1,209$92,748$430,300$194 pricier homes ($38K more) · 7 min longer commute

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.