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 Montauk, NY 11954

Montauk: median income $142,961, home value $1,356,600, $1,185/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Helena, CA 94574 87%2,650$139,474$1,637,800$1,017 pricier homes ($281K more) · larger · older residents
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 84%2,539$140,666$1,226,200$1,085 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger · more renters
Santa Cruz, CA 95065 84%2,664$153,222$1,228,500$674 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger
Snowmass, CO 81654 82%1,845$141,111$1,122,000$1,462 cheaper homes ($235K less) · smaller · older residents
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 82%2,675$153,781$1,556,800$812 pricier homes ($200K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Soquel, CA 95073 76%2,662$118,169$1,062,800$699 cheaper homes ($294K less) · larger
Santa Barbara, CA 93111 74%2,621$144,353$1,296,700$1,017 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Carmel Valley, CA 93924 74%2,664$148,563$1,222,600$762 cheaper homes ($134K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Tahoe City, CA 96145 73%2,518$112,875$962,600$704 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($394K less) · more walkable
Bodega Bay, CA 94923 72%2,684$147,546$1,186,500$910 cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller · older residents
Kalaheo, HI 96741 72%5,117$110,873$953,200$696 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($403K less)
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 71%2,664$151,250$1,136,400$649 cheaper homes ($220K less) · larger · more walkable
Truckee, CA 96161 70%2,515$131,702$991,400$644 cheaper homes ($365K less) · larger
Incline Village, NV 89451 69%2,506$166,509$1,461,200$763 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Topanga, CA 90290 69%2,568$149,304$1,567,700$698 pricier homes ($211K more) · 9 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Santa Ynez, CA 93460 69%2,630$114,139$1,205,900$677 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($151K less)
Aptos, CA 95003 69%2,660$148,412$1,198,700$764 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger · more walkable
Olympic Valley, CA 96146 69%2,520$160,833$1,455,100$817 pricier homes ($99K more) · smaller · older residents
Pacifica, CA 94044 68%2,673$160,408$1,249,800$896 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · older homes
Westlake Village, CA 91361 67%2,580$144,900$1,433,300$676 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · older residents
Salinas, CA 93908 67%2,658$156,394$1,091,700$549 cheaper homes ($265K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Penryn, CA 95663 67%2,577$155,917$960,800$540 cheaper homes ($396K less) · older residents
Chilmark, MA 02535 66%66$153,966$1,888,000$1,176 pricier homes ($531K more) · smaller · older residents
Isle Of Palms, SC 29451 66%715$156,979$1,581,300$975 pricier homes ($225K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Basalt, CO 81621 66%1,841$104,754$1,136,600$1,250 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($220K 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.