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 Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Salt Lake City: median income $52,952, home value $440,200, $399/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tacoma, WA 98402 88%690$60,505$531,300$438 pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller
Austin, TX 78752 84%1,072$67,682$422,000$334 larger
Denver, CO 80246 83%374$67,235$716,400$405 pricier homes ($276K more)
Portland, OR 97201 80%636$63,250$673,600$303 pricier homes ($233K more)
Carrboro, NC 27510 79%1,798$61,837$449,700$282 less walkable
Norfolk, VA 23510 78%1,922$73,524$385,700$246 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Sacramento, CA 95814 77%532$58,284$633,200$355 pricier homes ($193K more) · older residents · older homes
Dallas, TX 75240 76%992$58,320$395,100$220 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Eugene, OR 97401 76%615$52,022$494,100$328 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33130 75%2,086$61,009$517,300$536 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · newer homes
Madison, WI 53703 75%1,164$47,847$471,800$436 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · younger residents
Addison, TX 75001 75%989$73,514$468,800$259 pricier homes ($29K more)
Phoenix, AZ 85003 75%505$60,461$616,800$389 pricier homes ($177K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Raleigh, NC 27601 74%1,825$71,350$579,500$387 pricier homes ($139K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Durham, NC 27701 73%1,806$69,740$508,900$346 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Tempe, AZ 85281 73%507$64,538$381,000$345 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98104 73%700$61,460$616,000$596 pricier homes ($176K more) · more renters
Philadelphia, PA 19122 72%1,920$63,676$349,800$247 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Nashville, TN 37208 72%1,388$65,556$520,000$315 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Dallas, TX 75231 72%996$58,540$522,400$256 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger · less walkable
Phoenix, AZ 85004 72%504$73,750$417,400$331 newer homes
West Palm Beach, FL 33401 71%2,053$67,967$473,100$469 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55403 71%983$60,873$298,500$215 cheaper homes ($142K less) · older homes
Irving, TX 75038 71%986$68,990$408,000$232 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · less walkable
Dallas, TX 75235 71%994$63,393$294,500$249 cheaper homes ($146K less) · larger · newer homes

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.