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 Monsey, NY 10952

Monsey: median income $64,332, home value $863,600, $425/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wahiawa, HI 96786 75%4,951$85,554$807,900$511 cheaper homes ($56K less) · older residents · more renters
Riverside, CA 92507 74%2,396$75,303$536,900$358 cheaper homes ($327K less) · older residents · more walkable
Oceanside, CA 92058 73%2,421$69,970$670,200$520 cheaper homes ($193K less) · older residents · more renters
Lakewood, NJ 08701 67%72$64,959$466,100$277 cheaper homes ($398K less) · larger · more walkable
Dallas, TX 75220 66%1,375$69,843$500,200$388 cheaper homes ($363K less) · older residents · more renters
Ontario, CA 91764 65%2,408$81,762$565,800$456 cheaper homes ($298K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Santa Maria, CA 93458 64%2,532$75,257$511,800$408 cheaper homes ($352K less) · older residents · more walkable
Provo, UT 84601 63%1,956$67,207$403,500$249 cheaper homes ($460K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
San Diego, CA 92115 63%2,418$79,199$799,200$585 cheaper homes ($64K less) · older residents · more walkable
Salinas, CA 93905 63%2,543$80,126$616,100$479 cheaper homes ($248K less) · older residents · more walkable
El Cajon, CA 92020 62%2,411$76,032$813,100$522 cheaper homes ($51K less) · older residents · more walkable
El Cajon, CA 92021 62%2,408$74,013$611,900$483 cheaper homes ($252K less) · older residents
Castroville, CA 95012 62%2,548$80,288$598,900$333 cheaper homes ($265K less) · smaller · older residents
Escondido, CA 92025 61%2,407$81,106$827,900$479 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents · more walkable
Vista, CA 92083 61%2,414$86,974$658,200$528 cheaper homes ($205K less) · older residents · more walkable
Santa Rosa, CA 95407 61%2,558$82,863$627,100$442 cheaper homes ($237K less) · older residents
Chico, CA 95926 61%2,482$61,920$473,600$286 cheaper homes ($390K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Bellingham, WA 98225 61%2,384$63,941$631,200$458 cheaper homes ($232K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
San Diego, CA 92105 60%2,420$68,563$635,600$595 cheaper homes ($228K less) · older residents · more renters
Anaheim, CA 92802 59%2,431$84,419$790,600$546 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older residents · more walkable
Santa Maria, CA 93454 59%2,528$81,522$525,000$402 cheaper homes ($339K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Monmouth, OR 97361 59%2,461$69,505$451,100$284 cheaper homes ($413K less) · smaller · older residents
Rohnert Park, CA 94928 58%2,557$99,280$666,000$413 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($198K less) · older residents
Kent, WA 98032 58%2,386$82,636$520,800$327 cheaper homes ($343K less) · older residents · more walkable
Paramount, CA 90723 57%2,441$75,250$533,700$510 cheaper homes ($330K less) · older residents · more walkable

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.