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 Raleigh, NC 27608

Raleigh: median income $162,188, home value $977,400, $454/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tampa, FL 33629 90%590$164,355$851,400$493 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger
Portland, OR 97221 88%2,373$145,671$821,400$342 cheaper homes ($156K less)
Lake Oswego, OR 97034 84%2,371$149,236$1,047,500$444 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · older residents
Needham Heights, MA 02494 83%599$179,720$1,107,700$530 pricier homes ($130K more) · 8 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35213 83%487$159,824$789,800$321 cheaper homes ($188K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Nashville, TN 37215 83%458$155,863$1,046,500$413 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · less walkable
Devon, PA 19333 81%341$173,107$760,700$386 cheaper homes ($217K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Birmingham, MI 48009 81%526$153,401$697,900$377 cheaper homes ($280K less) · larger · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30327 80%354$189,250$1,136,500$399 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($159K more) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63124 80%674$193,942$988,600$376 higher income ($32K more) · older residents · less walkable
Vienna, VA 22180 79%227$177,111$941,400$423 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Nashville, TN 37205 79%460$139,152$953,300$403 larger · older residents
Boulder, CO 80305 79%1,473$126,107$1,032,900$578 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($56K more) · younger residents
Boulder, CO 80304 78%1,475$126,558$1,210,200$619 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($233K more) · larger
Bedford, MA 01730 77%607$172,400$898,500$496 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 7 min longer commute
Wayne, PA 19087 77%343$171,179$748,200$364 cheaper homes ($229K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Vienna, VA 22181 77%226$211,911$998,300$402 higher income ($50K more) · 8 min longer commute
Dallas, TX 75209 76%1,056$134,707$864,200$391 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($113K less)
Paoli, PA 19301 75%340$167,348$550,100$344 cheaper homes ($427K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Salt Lake City, UT 84108 75%1,820$120,854$838,600$421 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger
Bellevue, WA 98008 75%2,350$184,583$1,206,200$671 pricier homes ($229K more) · larger
Arlington, VA 22205 74%228$201,094$1,092,800$542 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($115K more) · 8 min longer commute
Wayzata, MN 55391 74%1,005$174,301$923,400$340 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older residents · less walkable
Minneapolis, MN 55410 74%994$146,425$620,600$323 cheaper homes ($357K less) · larger · older homes
Leawood, KS 66206 74%902$174,394$672,100$289 cheaper homes ($305K less) · more single-family 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.