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 Lake Mary, FL 32746

Lake Mary: median income $104,775, home value $462,900, $248/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Matthews, NC 28105 95%441$108,190$430,800$234 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Charleston, SC 29414 94%291$99,529$417,300$258 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Williamsburg, VA 23185 93%646$105,431$429,500$220 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Clifton Park, NY 12065 92%1,061$113,873$379,900$262 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Marlton, NJ 08053 91%852$118,670$397,600$259 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Mooresville, NC 28117 91%472$112,976$615,200$257 pricier homes ($152K more)
Nashville, TN 37221 91%602$97,751$463,900$247 Very close on everything we compare
Nashua, NH 03062 90%1,110$107,540$436,600$306 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · older homes
Ballston Spa, NY 12020 90%1,069$107,112$329,400$271 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Williamsburg, VA 23188 90%648$103,160$449,900$224 older residents
Henrico, VA 23238 90%646$101,523$420,500$241 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · older homes
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 90%1,089$97,051$379,500$224 cheaper homes ($83K less) · younger residents
Chaska, MN 55318 90%1,297$112,243$420,400$211 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · younger residents
Suffolk, VA 23435 89%627$111,700$394,500$215 cheaper homes ($68K less) · younger residents
Grapevine, TX 76051 89%976$111,160$489,400$258 pricier homes ($27K more)
Peoria, AZ 85382 89%1,847$91,525$438,300$242 Very close on everything we compare
Henderson, NV 89012 89%2,018$98,053$494,700$293 pricier homes ($32K more)
Virginia Beach, VA 23454 88%637$102,796$416,700$262 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Greensboro, NC 27455 88%521$94,349$341,500$191 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller
Rochester, MI 48307 88%966$106,576$355,700$211 cheaper homes ($107K less) · older homes
Grafton, WI 53024 88%1,071$92,390$366,300$244 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Saint Charles, IL 60174 88%989$104,534$362,200$254 cheaper homes ($101K less) · older homes
The Colony, TX 75056 88%967$119,682$458,200$223 younger residents
Loveland, CO 80538 88%1,565$86,671$497,700$248 pricier homes ($35K more)
Essex Junction, VT 05452 87%1,179$101,349$432,400$265 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute

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.