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 Lanai City, HI 96763

Lanai City: median income $92,417, home value $638,400, $517/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chelan, WA 98816 83%2,769$82,577$499,200$421 cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger · older residents
Warrenton, OR 97146 80%2,551$82,936$463,800$313 cheaper homes ($175K less) · larger
Manson, WA 98831 80%2,765$82,650$659,500$341 more homeowners
West Yellowstone, MT 59758 78%3,075$66,375$577,200$470 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Mount Hood Parkdale, OR 97041 78%2,625$82,679$705,600$416 pricier homes ($67K more) · more homeowners
Durham, CA 95938 77%2,443$82,974$611,700$368 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older homes
Cordova, AK 99574 74%2,797$85,132$418,400— cheaper homes ($220K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Bellevue, ID 83313 73%2,900$74,575$578,000$516 cheaper homes ($60K less) · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Lake Placid, NY 12946 72%4,885$77,548$467,000$363 cheaper homes ($171K less)
Marathon, FL 33050 72%4,778$94,898$747,300$686 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · older residents
Granby, CO 80446 72%3,263$74,973$642,600$439 more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Point Arena, CA 95468 72%2,335$115,955$489,900— cheaper homes ($149K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Buena Vista, CO 81211 71%3,240$88,083$677,400$409 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · older residents
Durango, CO 81303 71%3,131$88,103$597,300$403 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Driggs, ID 83422 71%3,055$96,530$548,600$486 cheaper homes ($90K less) · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Moab, UT 84532 71%3,057$68,444$549,400$392 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · more homeowners
Lakeside, MT 59922 70%3,015$87,237$657,500$298 older residents · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Santa Margarita, CA 93453 70%2,432$78,288$710,000$721 pricier homes ($72K more) · older residents
Sublimity, OR 97385 70%2,552$84,796$494,600$308 cheaper homes ($144K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Tangent, OR 97389 70%2,528$94,909$433,000$295 cheaper homes ($205K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
North Bonneville, WA 98639 70%2,614$100,417$445,900$493 cheaper homes ($193K less) · smaller · 10 min longer commute
Orondo, WA 98843 70%2,758$69,425$750,900$295 pricier homes ($113K more) · newer homes
Seward, AK 99664 70%2,741$87,760$384,600$271 cheaper homes ($254K less)
Columbia Falls, MT 59912 69%3,026$76,617$488,800$399 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 69%2,897$74,782$589,600$419 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger

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.