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 33332

Fort Lauderdale: median income $172,730, home value $909,000, $395/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Golden, CO 80403 92%1,718$151,276$838,000$344 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Midway, UT 84049 92%2,038$151,343$891,500$371 smaller · younger residents
Groton, MA 01450 90%1,249$193,292$743,400$325 cheaper homes ($166K less)
Windham, NH 03087 89%1,266$189,583$723,300$322 cheaper homes ($186K less)
Warren, NJ 07059 89%1,062$212,479$921,500$440 higher income ($40K more) · larger · older homes
Holmdel, NJ 07733 89%1,053$166,849$843,300$413 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Doylestown, PA 18902 89%1,033$161,267$668,200$301 cheaper homes ($241K less) · larger
Purcellville, VA 20132 88%917$181,875$776,300$274 cheaper homes ($133K less) · larger
Franklin, TN 37069 88%785$157,939$815,600$349 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 87%2,504$165,467$916,000$369 larger
North Bend, WA 98045 87%2,679$175,765$938,500$494 pricier homes ($30K more)
Southborough, MA 01772 86%1,230$201,568$841,700$354 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($67K less) · older homes
Driftwood, TX 78619 86%1,108$183,393$810,600$339 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller
Carnation, WA 98014 86%2,689$164,306$940,600$446 pricier homes ($32K more)
Westford, MA 01886 85%1,250$187,198$748,500$371 cheaper homes ($161K less) · larger · older homes
Colts Neck, NJ 07722 85%1,047$198,994$917,200$474 higher income ($26K more) · older homes
Clifton, VA 20124 85%896$221,060$884,800$300 higher income ($48K more)
Boyds, MD 20841 85%926$184,688$782,500$292 cheaper homes ($127K less) · more walkable
Phoenix, AZ 85045 85%1,960$153,583$634,600$280 cheaper homes ($274K less)
Duvall, WA 98019 85%2,692$161,212$826,600$421 cheaper homes ($82K less) · younger residents
Snoqualmie, WA 98065 85%2,683$198,216$956,600$459 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($48K more) · younger residents
Duxbury, MA 02332 84%1,234$176,583$874,600$459 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older homes
Kendall Park, NJ 08824 84%1,048$174,776$628,000$360 cheaper homes ($281K less) · older homes
Hamilton, VA 20158 84%918$211,522$765,800$291 higher income ($39K more) · cheaper homes ($143K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78733 84%1,102$206,368$1,008,600$407 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($100K more) · 7 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.