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 California, MD 20619

California: median income $119,432, home value $376,800, $212/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Suffolk, VA 23435 92%100$111,700$394,500$215 larger
San Antonio, TX 78259 92%1,387$114,156$380,800$171 larger
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 90%771$104,573$434,900$202 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
New Hudson, MI 48165 90%473$106,220$389,000$203 more homeowners
Lumberton, NJ 08048 89%148$113,440$432,100$232 pricier homes ($55K more) · older homes
Orlando, FL 32829 89%731$99,213$386,600$237 Very close on everything we compare
Platte City, MO 64079 89%984$99,161$350,900$188 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Midlothian, VA 23114 88%83$112,738$409,100$220 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
North Liberty, IA 52317 88%831$105,318$322,800$175 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Chaska, MN 55318 88%988$112,243$420,400$211 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Lees Summit, MO 64081 88%965$102,119$356,500$178 larger
Carrollton, VA 23314 87%93$104,029$409,500$211 pricier homes ($33K more)
Jacksonville, FL 32258 87%633$102,204$370,700$197 larger
Orlando, FL 32832 87%736$118,856$497,200$233 pricier homes ($120K more) · larger
Lutz, FL 33558 87%782$116,090$520,500$239 pricier homes ($144K more) · larger
Spanish Fort, AL 36527 87%832$120,189$389,000$186 larger · more single-family homes
North Aurora, IL 60542 87%669$114,831$342,400$217 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents
Charleston, SC 29414 86%427$99,529$417,300$258 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158 86%664$105,868$375,600$234 older residents
Cottage Grove, WI 53527 86%740$133,883$444,700$238 pricier homes ($68K more)
Austin, TX 78747 86%1,333$92,748$430,300$194 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077 85%965$111,967$540,900$207 pricier homes ($164K more) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Charlottesville, VA 22911 84%103$128,235$454,100$230 pricier homes ($77K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Matthews, NC 28105 84%319$108,190$430,800$234 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Smyrna, GA 30082 84%542$120,372$438,700$200 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · older homes

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.