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 Ocean City, MD 21842

Ocean City: median income $79,876, home value $447,700, $437/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572 81%378$85,247$427,400$281 older residents · less walkable
Wildwood, NJ 08260 79%47$79,699$469,400$508 older residents · more single-family homes
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 79%761$89,457$532,300$353 pricier homes ($85K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Palm Springs, CA 92264 79%2,316$77,688$560,100$388 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · older residents
North Palm Beach, FL 33408 78%846$92,216$611,400$406 pricier homes ($164K more) · larger · older residents
Palm Desert, CA 92260 77%2,310$70,091$489,500$368 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · older residents
Panama City, FL 32408 76%828$80,822$382,300$316 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · younger residents
Pompano Beach, FL 33062 75%886$83,582$557,600$410 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger · older residents
Orange Beach, AL 36561 73%903$98,295$574,500$490 pricier homes ($127K more) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Carolina Beach, NC 28428 72%336$93,241$572,700$417 pricier homes ($125K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Panama City Beach, FL 32413 72%829$80,039$441,300$334 more single-family homes · newer homes
Delray Beach, FL 33445 72%871$78,163$326,700$241 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785 72%849$101,356$729,200$538 pricier homes ($282K more) · smaller · older residents
Boca Raton, FL 33434 71%877$77,269$412,900$330 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older residents
Boca Raton, FL 33487 71%874$96,066$632,100$439 pricier homes ($184K more) · larger · less walkable
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 71%913$79,018$527,900$462 pricier homes ($80K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 70%896$93,879$564,900$377 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Clearwater, FL 33761 70%837$74,728$289,700$235 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 69%757$66,955$372,400$249 cheaper homes ($75K less) · older residents · more renters
Scottsdale, AZ 85250 69%2,073$95,761$583,300$362 pricier homes ($136K more) · more single-family homes
Boca Raton, FL 33433 68%879$84,091$469,100$276 larger · more single-family homes
Bradenton, FL 34210 68%869$64,244$301,200$232 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger · more renters
Palm Springs, CA 92262 68%2,316$71,672$619,600$397 pricier homes ($172K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Clearwater, FL 33762 67%844$87,461$344,700$222 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
South Padre Island, TX 78597 67%1,532$68,421$527,200$373 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller · older residents

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.