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 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Fort Lauderdale: median income $124,812, home value $884,800, $542/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Houston, TX 77027 78%967$103,812$859,500$362 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98107 78%2,720$142,662$953,400$553 pricier homes ($69K more) · younger residents
Houston, TX 77019 77%965$116,423$816,500$298 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Arlington, VA 22203 76%898$140,135$826,800$511 cheaper homes ($58K less) · younger residents · older homes
San Diego, CA 92108 76%2,262$103,884$618,700$563 cheaper homes ($266K less) · younger residents
Irvine, CA 92614 75%2,304$122,821$1,076,700$822 pricier homes ($192K more) · younger residents · older homes
Houston, TX 77056 74%968$93,499$860,900$293 lower income ($31K less)
Austin, TX 78704 74%1,110$106,897$916,100$507 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · younger residents
Irvine, CA 92606 74%2,304$135,598$1,141,100$788 pricier homes ($256K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98122 74%2,716$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · younger residents
Reston, VA 20190 73%902$134,746$581,400$402 cheaper homes ($303K less) · older homes
Rockville, MD 20850 73%912$125,950$714,400$331 cheaper homes ($170K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80202 73%1,713$114,151$722,700$467 cheaper homes ($162K less) · younger residents · more renters
Denver, CO 80230 73%1,707$99,750$829,000$324 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Irvine, CA 92612 73%2,304$106,226$993,800$750 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · younger residents
San Jose, CA 95126 73%2,552$128,983$1,214,300$744 pricier homes ($330K more) · larger · younger residents
San Diego, CA 92101 71%2,263$91,566$793,100$693 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
San Francisco, CA 94103 71%2,582$116,438$1,022,800$857 pricier homes ($138K more) · larger · more renters
Bellevue, WA 98007 71%2,709$131,109$1,018,100$543 pricier homes ($133K more) · younger residents · older homes
Washington, DC 20003 70%900$159,846$957,700$625 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($73K more) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30305 70%590$106,907$737,500$391 cheaper homes ($147K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Walnut Creek, CA 94597 70%2,564$132,063$1,026,800$597 pricier homes ($142K more) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Houston, TX 77098 69%965$116,650$787,300$293 cheaper homes ($98K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Irvine, CA 92618 69%2,297$145,731$1,283,800$723 pricier homes ($399K more) · larger · younger residents
Washington, DC 20001 68%902$138,059$852,600$552 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · younger 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.