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 Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Virginia Beach: median income $100,697, home value $613,600, $349/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlotte, NC 28210 95%296$100,824$531,700$315 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Scottsdale, AZ 85251 92%2,030$92,851$554,400$388 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Tampa, FL 33611 91%726$90,910$479,800$368 cheaper homes ($134K less) · more single-family homes
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 90%257$96,725$616,300$447 Very close on everything we compare
Raleigh, NC 27612 90%165$95,988$529,000$261 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Raleigh, NC 27609 89%162$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Dallas, TX 75248 89%1,206$100,414$576,100$254 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Austin, TX 78723 89%1,324$100,329$562,300$355 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Austin, TX 78759 89%1,325$102,400$674,000$332 pricier homes ($60K more)
Englewood, CO 80112 89%1,573$108,874$659,200$282 pricier homes ($46K more) · newer homes
Phoenix, AZ 85016 89%2,036$87,850$564,900$363 cheaper homes ($49K less) · more walkable
Broomfield, CO 80021 88%1,584$110,038$568,000$292 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more single-family homes
Boulder, CO 80301 88%1,589$95,207$793,200$376 pricier homes ($180K more) · smaller
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 87%226$116,847$429,300$278 cheaper homes ($184K less)
Houston, TX 77079 87%1,230$101,995$679,900$339 pricier homes ($66K more)
Middleton, WI 53562 86%834$101,381$532,200$270 cheaper homes ($81K less) · more single-family homes
Arvada, CO 80002 86%1,583$93,362$558,500$322 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Scottsdale, AZ 85260 86%2,026$97,177$698,200$400 pricier homes ($85K more) · more single-family homes
Redlands, CA 92373 86%2,308$101,271$765,700$386 pricier homes ($152K more) · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30328 85%514$112,111$561,900$236 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Orlando, FL 32819 85%662$98,109$489,700$278 cheaper homes ($124K less) · more single-family homes
Beaverton, OR 97006 85%2,472$104,790$549,200$300 cheaper homes ($64K less) · newer homes
Wilsonville, OR 97070 85%2,468$97,429$631,400$285 smaller · newer homes
Dover, NH 03820 84%514$94,897$436,100$328 cheaper homes ($178K less) · less walkable
Parsippany, NJ 07054 84%290$104,214$587,000$387 cheaper homes ($27K less) · more single-family homes · 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.