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 Wenatchee, WA 98801

Wenatchee: median income $81,488, home value $461,200, $292/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boise, ID 83704 93%327$73,390$388,000$281 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Redding, CA 96002 92%485$73,222$367,200$254 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Medford, OR 97504 92%372$83,923$468,900$267 Very close on everything we compare
Mcminnville, OR 97128 91%206$75,896$457,600$288 Very close on everything we compare
Salem, OR 97303 91%212$84,871$433,900$263 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 7 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85032 90%1,048$78,643$416,800$309 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Sparks, NV 89434 90%545$91,507$457,000$302 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Cathedral City, CA 92234 90%962$73,572$453,100$290 Very close on everything we compare
Virginia Beach, VA 23452 89%2,346$79,085$346,600$250 cheaper homes ($115K less) · 5 min longer commute
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 89%977$87,685$442,200$208 Very close on everything we compare
Mesa, AZ 85203 89%1,064$73,578$439,100$262 7 min longer commute
Visalia, CA 93277 89%770$80,548$350,400$242 cheaper homes ($111K less)
Ukiah, CA 95482 89%589$69,772$491,300$343 pricier homes ($30K more)
Woodland, CA 95695 89%609$79,486$547,400$342 pricier homes ($86K more) · 6 min longer commute
Redding, CA 96001 89%485$72,484$401,500$255 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Redding, CA 96003 89%480$72,445$402,900$254 cheaper homes ($58K less) · less walkable
Salem, OR 97302 89%217$85,833$446,400$268 Very close on everything we compare
Longmont, CO 80501 88%907$80,911$488,800$270 pricier homes ($28K more) · 6 min longer commute
Salt Lake City, UT 84123 88%626$81,271$464,500$242 more apartments and townhomes
Chandler, AZ 85224 88%1,069$94,516$438,700$298 Very close on everything we compare
Sacramento, CA 95826 88%615$82,127$463,300$320 7 min longer commute
Portland, OR 97230 88%166$75,572$450,700$255 7 min longer commute
Albany, OR 97322 88%234$69,808$352,900$280 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Springfield, OR 97478 88%264$80,086$387,700$305 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Ogden, UT 84401 87%595$80,758$439,900$223 younger residents · 5 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.