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 Hood River, OR 97031

Hood River: median income $91,858, home value $691,200, $409/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 92%473$92,517$707,500$467 larger
Flagstaff, AZ 86004 90%890$81,172$509,900$381 cheaper homes ($181K less) · larger
Hailey, ID 83333 89%385$99,704$744,200$566 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Atascadero, CA 93422 88%706$91,780$737,600$438 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Rocklin, CA 95677 88%476$105,713$654,200$349 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Bellingham, WA 98229 87%213$90,945$633,500$390 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · less walkable
Asheville, NC 28804 85%2,133$88,312$566,000$324 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Reno, NV 89523 85%433$99,061$607,300$352 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger · newer homes
Roseville, CA 95661 85%480$105,925$687,800$366 larger · 6 min longer commute
Olympia, WA 98501 85%113$97,198$529,300$299 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger
Missoula, MT 59803 84%368$111,925$556,000$283 cheaper homes ($135K less)
Missoula, MT 59804 84%361$76,266$588,400$351 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · older residents
Reno, NV 89509 84%435$86,126$703,700$385 larger · more renters
Ventura, CA 93004 84%797$114,012$800,900$505 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Boca Raton, FL 33486 83%2,632$105,540$664,100$530 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Boise, ID 83703 83%295$76,910$508,000$353 cheaper homes ($183K less) · more walkable
Lodi, CA 95242 83%521$104,721$567,100$326 cheaper homes ($124K less) · 7 min longer commute
Santa Rosa, CA 95404 83%503$105,437$903,900$522 pricier homes ($213K more) · larger · older homes
Charleston, SC 29412 82%2,368$101,509$504,500$355 cheaper homes ($187K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Fort Collins, CO 80524 82%900$85,035$561,400$274 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger
Camarillo, CA 93010 82%801$111,176$867,100$495 pricier homes ($176K more) · larger
Winters, CA 95694 82%494$109,696$658,400$360 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Chico, CA 95973 82%406$92,813$489,900$313 cheaper homes ($201K less) · larger
Lynden, WA 98264 82%230$103,638$609,100$341 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Olympia, WA 98502 82%123$92,207$537,200$326 cheaper homes ($154K less) · larger · 6 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.