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 33305

Fort Lauderdale: median income $92,485, home value $640,400, $476/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Scottsdale, AZ 85250 88%1,963$95,761$583,300$362 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Ocean City, NJ 08226 79%961$101,782$840,500$816 pricier homes ($200K more)
Eatontown, NJ 07724 78%1,038$102,756$522,100$381 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger · less walkable
Salt Lake City, UT 84117 77%2,069$87,813$648,900$314 larger · younger residents
San Pedro, CA 90732 77%2,332$120,807$857,000$483 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($217K more) · larger
Palm Springs, CA 92264 77%2,229$77,688$560,100$388 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · older residents
Scottsdale, AZ 85258 76%1,963$114,111$846,000$462 pricier homes ($206K more) · larger
Palm Springs, CA 92262 76%2,230$71,672$619,600$397 larger
Brigantine, NJ 08203 75%975$97,250$524,800$496 cheaper homes ($116K less) · smaller · older residents
Torrance, CA 90502 75%2,331$94,291$697,400$557 pricier homes ($57K more) · younger residents
Amesbury, MA 01913 74%1,265$103,554$519,300$385 cheaper homes ($121K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Annapolis, MD 21401 74%911$123,381$601,400$331 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Carolina Beach, NC 28428 74%561$93,241$572,700$417 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Littleton, CO 80120 74%1,708$94,296$628,300$289 larger · younger residents
Seal Beach, CA 90740 74%2,319$85,347$484,100$453 cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger · older residents
Tacoma, WA 98407 74%2,717$110,288$656,600$414 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Stoneham, MA 02180 73%1,239$113,964$671,900$437 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · younger residents
Little Falls, NJ 07424 73%1,073$105,050$487,600$384 cheaper homes ($153K less) · larger · younger residents
Highlands, NJ 07732 73%1,046$91,875$455,000$442 cheaper homes ($185K less) · smaller · 10 min longer commute
Doylestown, PA 18901 72%1,019$118,256$576,800$306 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75230 72%1,103$110,956$931,500$359 pricier homes ($291K more) · larger · younger residents
Gardena, CA 90248 72%2,331$91,176$724,300$597 pricier homes ($84K more) · younger residents
Capitola, CA 95010 72%2,551$105,236$828,700$906 pricier homes ($188K more) · smaller · more renters
Beaverton, OR 97008 72%2,695$96,116$578,100$338 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · younger residents
Bristol, RI 02809 71%1,186$97,764$485,000$387 cheaper homes ($155K 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.