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 Boise, ID 83705

Boise: median income $64,731, home value $415,900, $312/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 92%675$74,402$414,900$260 Very close on everything we compare
Colorado Springs, CO 80905 89%676$63,281$379,000$264 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Fresno, CA 93704 89%505$73,234$401,600$252 6 min longer commute
Madison, WI 53714 87%1,347$71,519$306,900$258 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller
Missoula, MT 59802 87%253$67,736$461,700$351 pricier homes ($46K more)
Springfield, OR 97477 87%340$65,662$373,000$279 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32207 86%2,099$65,234$307,200$226 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Reno, NV 89503 86%337$66,743$467,200$298 pricier homes ($51K more) · less walkable
North Charleston, SC 29405 85%2,082$56,600$307,800$284 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Waukesha, WI 53186 85%1,402$74,588$301,100$224 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80909 85%678$64,035$386,200$192 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84104 85%294$61,425$359,600$309 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Albuquerque, NM 87104 85%776$75,436$362,500$273 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Tampa, FL 33603 84%2,156$74,081$391,000$322 5 min longer commute · older homes
Longmont, CO 80501 84%618$80,911$488,800$270 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Portland, OR 97216 84%339$70,442$450,800$329 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Wenatchee, WA 98801 84%332$81,488$461,200$292 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · less walkable
Cranston, RI 02920 83%2,249$80,717$370,000$280 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 5 min longer commute
Savannah, GA 31405 83%2,056$65,710$338,200$217 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · less walkable
Tulsa, OK 74105 83%1,188$69,547$337,100$210 cheaper homes ($79K less) · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84116 83%293$66,751$381,300$276 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Portland, OR 97220 83%340$70,137$450,200$325 pricier homes ($34K more) · 8 min longer commute · older homes
Medford, OR 97501 83%350$63,977$353,800$260 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
College Place, WA 99324 83%201$62,839$368,500$284 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · less walkable
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 82%2,346$75,361$469,700$375 pricier homes ($54K more) · 8 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.