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 33321

Fort Lauderdale: median income $62,066, home value $288,100, $226/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Philadelphia, PA 19116 80%1,007$67,535$346,600$249 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller · more renters
Philadelphia, PA 19115 79%1,005$70,054$345,000$250 pricier homes ($57K more) · more renters · older homes
Mesa, AZ 85205 79%1,942$73,283$339,900$256 pricier homes ($52K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Randallstown, MD 21133 77%931$80,480$322,800$194 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Palos Hills, IL 60465 77%1,153$83,533$279,200$200 smaller · younger residents
Mesa, AZ 85208 77%1,938$69,390$286,200$251 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes · less walkable
Essex, MD 21221 76%931$67,340$271,500$187 younger residents · more renters · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19114 74%1,004$77,708$293,500$236 smaller · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Fox Lake, IL 60020 74%1,204$73,949$226,200$185 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Crestwood, IL 60418 74%1,148$75,752$195,200$174 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Bensalem, PA 19020 73%1,008$83,223$362,800$256 pricier homes ($75K more) · younger residents · more renters
Mays Landing, NJ 08330 72%969$77,167$236,600$213 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · younger residents
Middle River, MD 21220 72%934$81,817$300,100$187 younger residents
Apache Junction, AZ 85119 72%1,929$71,585$265,000$272 smaller · less walkable
Albuquerque, NM 87123 72%1,669$64,359$249,500$203 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Crest Hill, IL 60403 71%1,150$73,074$233,200$195 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · younger residents
Tinley Park, IL 60477 71%1,145$94,927$274,800$206 higher income ($33K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Mesa, AZ 85206 71%1,942$75,607$357,900$239 pricier homes ($70K more) · 9 min shorter commute · more renters
Edgewood, MD 21040 69%941$81,704$238,000$164 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · younger residents
Clinton Township, MI 48038 69%1,144$78,567$265,500$166 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Des Plaines, IL 60016 69%1,176$86,571$320,400$241 pricier homes ($32K more) · younger residents · older homes
Prospect Heights, IL 60070 69%1,181$84,775$343,000$240 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller · younger residents
Aurora, CO 80014 69%1,692$73,210$416,200$212 pricier homes ($128K more) · younger residents · more renters
Derby, CT 06418 68%1,122$78,542$258,500$231 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · more renters
Rosedale, MD 21237 68%933$91,693$295,600$188 higher income ($30K more) · smaller · 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.