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 Bonners Ferry, ID 83805

Bonners Ferry: median income $70,083, home value $418,900, $292/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Soldotna, AK 99669 92%1,585$80,980$320,200$269 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger
Grand Junction, CO 81503 90%776$75,053$352,100$274 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Swannanoa, NC 28778 89%1,937$73,408$303,300$256 cheaper homes ($116K less)
Polson, MT 59860 89%124$62,047$441,500$309 older residents
Kanab, UT 84741 89%830$85,417$418,100$255 Very close on everything we compare
Ronan, MT 59864 88%131$61,978$297,700$274 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Hurricane, UT 84737 88%814$75,545$460,400$275 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Oakhurst, CA 93644 88%804$81,196$396,300$250 older homes
Homer, AK 99603 88%1,573$78,767$373,500$310 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Columbia Falls, MT 59912 87%102$76,617$488,800$399 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Williams, AZ 86046 87%935$79,095$418,700$323 6 min longer commute
Montrose, CO 81401 86%825$71,286$374,300$280 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Powell, WY 82435 86%451$67,534$362,700$233 cheaper homes ($56K less) · older homes
Colville, WA 99114 86%71$62,711$301,600$225 cheaper homes ($117K less) · older homes
Stuarts Draft, VA 24477 85%1,990$84,260$299,200$200 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Sturgis, SD 57785 85%685$63,897$296,100$221 cheaper homes ($123K less) · older homes
Dolores, CO 81323 85%872$75,393$392,000$291 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · older residents
Fowler, CA 93625 85%853$72,500$392,700$253 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents · more renters
Clyde, NC 28721 84%1,917$62,279$281,800$232 cheaper homes ($137K less) · 6 min longer commute
Clayton, GA 30525 84%1,926$65,150$274,200$258 cheaper homes ($145K less) · older residents
Tiger, GA 30576 84%1,927$81,417$324,900$245 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller
Gatlinburg, TN 37738 84%1,885$57,330$334,100$361 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Grand Junction, CO 81504 84%772$70,958$316,500$260 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · younger residents
Fruita, CO 81521 84%761$88,458$422,900$294 larger
Buffalo, WY 82834 84%548$63,395$328,700$222 cheaper homes ($90K 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.