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.

Reset

Towns most like Clearwater, FL 33755

Clearwater: median income $62,886, home value $328,700, $264/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Charleston, SC 29405 94%376$56,600$307,800$284 Very close on everything we compare
Las Vegas, NV 89107 93%1,971$59,571$330,500$239 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, OR 97477 93%2,476$65,662$373,000$279 pricier homes ($44K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Chicopee, MA 01020 92%1,136$66,009$280,900$244 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Norfolk, VA 23502 91%723$63,208$266,200$209 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80909 91%1,468$64,035$386,200$192 pricier homes ($58K more)
Phoenix, AZ 85029 91%1,778$64,556$345,600$249 larger · younger residents
Tucson, AZ 85711 91%1,700$56,121$280,300$213 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
New Bedford, MA 02745 90%1,159$74,034$368,600$316 pricier homes ($40K more)
West Warwick, RI 02893 90%1,141$77,608$330,800$268 Very close on everything we compare
Fresno, CA 93704 90%2,229$73,234$401,600$252 pricier homes ($73K more)
Fortuna, CA 95540 90%2,490$63,695$389,500$266 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Albany, OR 97322 90%2,487$69,808$352,900$280 newer homes
Medford, OR 97501 90%2,445$63,977$353,800$260 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Norfolk, VA 23513 89%724$68,380$234,000$200 cheaper homes ($95K less) · younger residents
Norfolk, VA 23518 89%726$77,594$300,700$238 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53220 89%1,075$69,319$229,300$213 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55428 89%1,316$74,860$299,500$188 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Westminster, CO 80030 89%1,510$61,092$439,400$268 pricier homes ($111K more) · smaller · younger residents
Phoenix, AZ 85051 89%1,778$69,189$326,300$221 larger · younger residents
Portland, OR 97266 89%2,478$72,577$445,700$302 pricier homes ($117K more)
Eugene, OR 97402 89%2,483$57,658$357,700$289 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Allentown, PA 18103 88%965$72,895$272,700$193 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Chesapeake, VA 23325 88%719$69,909$272,000$235 cheaper homes ($57K less) · younger residents
Newport News, VA 23601 88%727$71,279$243,800$204 cheaper homes ($85K less)

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.