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 Marco Island, FL 34145

Marco Island: median income $101,523, home value $896,300, $557/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 83%434$97,576$797,700$489 cheaper homes ($99K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 83%2,139$107,364$807,200$380 cheaper homes ($89K less) · more single-family homes
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 76%963$102,146$608,800$339 cheaper homes ($288K less) · younger residents
Walnut Creek, CA 94595 72%2,485$100,552$860,600$501 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Palm Desert, CA 92211 67%2,134$88,477$583,900$305 cheaper homes ($312K less) · larger · more renters
Brigantine, NJ 08203 66%1,023$97,250$524,800$496 cheaper homes ($372K less) · smaller · younger residents
Atlantic Beach, NC 28512 66%673$91,488$565,400$456 cheaper homes ($331K less) · smaller · younger residents
Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 65%366$108,632$571,100$344 cheaper homes ($325K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Hampton, NH 03842 64%1,325$95,422$548,500$423 cheaper homes ($348K less) · younger residents · more renters
Carolina Beach, NC 28428 64%604$93,241$572,700$417 cheaper homes ($324K less) · smaller · younger residents
Emerald Isle, NC 28594 64%664$89,773$603,700$474 cheaper homes ($293K less) · smaller · younger residents
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 63%437$97,948$639,400$351 cheaper homes ($257K less) · larger · younger residents
Tybee Island, GA 31328 63%422$109,631$619,800$427 cheaper homes ($277K less) · smaller · younger residents
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 63%1,870$112,795$623,400$336 cheaper homes ($273K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Palm Springs, CA 92264 60%2,145$77,688$560,100$388 cheaper homes ($336K less) · younger residents · more renters
Yountville, CA 94599 60%2,506$80,372$808,900$1,015 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller · more renters
Brewster, MA 02631 59%1,277$102,132$700,500$488 cheaper homes ($196K less) · smaller · younger residents
Ocean City, NJ 08226 59%1,009$101,782$840,500$816 cheaper homes ($56K less) · younger residents · more renters
Bethany Beach, DE 19930 59%952$125,491$887,400$529 smaller · more single-family homes
Orleans, MA 02653 58%1,282$102,813$960,600$503 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Sedona, AZ 86351 58%1,886$81,203$738,000$432 cheaper homes ($158K less) · smaller · more renters
Seal Beach, CA 90740 58%2,234$85,347$484,100$453 cheaper homes ($412K less) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Indian Wells, CA 92210 58%2,134$162,990$1,078,200$532 higher income ($61K more) · pricier homes ($182K more) · smaller
Ocean View, DE 19970 57%953$94,103$526,600$266 cheaper homes ($370K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Orange Beach, AL 36561 57%467$98,295$574,500$490 cheaper homes ($322K less) · 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.