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 West Palm Beach, FL 33412

West Palm Beach: median income $130,225, home value $643,800, $379/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kingston, WA 98346 90%2,692$114,779$612,800$348 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Gig Harbor, WA 98332 88%2,686$135,330$748,200$399 pricier homes ($104K more) · younger residents
Sparks, NV 89441 86%2,423$131,616$642,900$317 younger residents
Santa Clarita, CA 91390 85%2,322$151,897$878,400$388 pricier homes ($235K more) · younger residents · older homes
Mount Sinai, NY 11766 84%1,059$153,235$649,600$354 older homes
Manorville, NY 11949 84%1,059$138,864$601,600$339 cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents
Lakeville, MA 02347 83%1,164$133,984$565,900$358 cheaper homes ($78K less) · younger residents · older homes
Manahawkin, NJ 08050 83%955$115,676$422,900$327 cheaper homes ($221K less) · larger
Stevensville, MD 21666 83%868$123,645$494,300$278 cheaper homes ($150K less) · younger residents · older homes
Spicewood, TX 78669 83%1,107$128,000$671,000$272 pricier homes ($27K more) · younger residents
Elbert, CO 80106 83%1,638$136,852$748,800$295 pricier homes ($105K more) · smaller
Sterling, MA 01564 82%1,181$129,063$498,800$327 cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller · older homes
Kingston, MA 02364 82%1,179$119,876$610,600$386 cheaper homes ($33K less) · younger residents · older homes
Chester, NH 03036 82%1,226$142,212$552,300$298 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller · more homeowners
New River, AZ 85087 82%1,955$138,566$552,300$274 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Sloughhouse, CA 95683 82%2,487$140,457$718,900$309 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Camano Island, WA 98282 82%2,699$105,231$670,800$396 pricier homes ($27K more) · 7 min longer commute
Rochester, MA 02770 81%1,162$120,320$601,200$348 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · younger residents
Farmingdale, NJ 07727 81%989$129,931$652,400$365 smaller · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Columbus, NJ 08022 81%970$117,679$429,800$256 cheaper homes ($214K less) · smaller
Allentown, NJ 08501 81%978$146,182$588,800$312 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Spring Branch, TX 78070 81%1,122$115,175$516,600$221 cheaper homes ($127K less) · younger residents
Leander, TX 78645 81%1,102$113,008$434,600$225 cheaper homes ($209K less)
Marana, AZ 85658 81%1,889$123,415$478,400$238 cheaper homes ($165K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Rescue, CA 95672 81%2,483$146,769$767,400$331 pricier homes ($124K 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.