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 Orange Beach, AL 36561

Orange Beach: median income $98,295, home value $574,500, $490/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miramar Beach, FL 32550 84%74$101,250$741,600$458 pricier homes ($167K more) · older residents
Riverdale, NJ 07457 83%1,048$102,950$395,900$411 cheaper homes ($179K less) · smaller
Naples, FL 34109 83%450$92,259$667,700$344 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Carolina Beach, NC 28428 80%623$93,241$572,700$417 more homeowners · more single-family homes · older homes
Destin, FL 32541 80%67$95,124$597,900$391 larger · younger residents
Boca Raton, FL 33487 79%528$96,066$632,100$439 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · older homes
Naples, FL 34113 79%462$81,674$480,000$323 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger
Panama City Beach, FL 32413 77%100$80,039$441,300$334 cheaper homes ($133K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Salisbury, MA 01952 76%1,267$93,361$478,700$408 cheaper homes ($96K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Hampton, NH 03842 75%1,272$95,422$548,500$423 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Ocean City, MD 21842 73%903$79,876$447,700$437 cheaper homes ($127K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more walkable
Naples, FL 34110 73%449$97,564$579,700$366 larger · older residents
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572 72%567$85,247$427,400$281 cheaper homes ($147K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Mount Arlington, NJ 07856 71%1,032$92,466$419,200$288 cheaper homes ($155K less) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Panama City, FL 32408 71%112$80,822$382,300$316 cheaper homes ($192K less) · larger · younger residents
Naples, FL 34105 71%453$92,214$594,000$277 larger · older residents
Seabrook, NH 03874 69%1,268$82,995$446,100$351 cheaper homes ($128K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Atlantic Beach, NC 28512 69%701$91,488$565,400$456 smaller · older residents · older homes
Saint Augustine, FL 32080 69%379$92,531$535,800$339 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · older residents
Bedminster, NJ 07921 67%1,020$123,104$433,300$456 cheaper homes ($141K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Cranbury, NJ 08512 67%1,009$118,587$659,400$339 pricier homes ($85K more) · 6 min longer commute · more renters
North Palm Beach, FL 33408 67%515$92,216$611,400$406 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · older residents
Jensen Beach, FL 34957 67%492$70,403$416,700$330 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger
Brigantine, NJ 08203 66%978$97,250$524,800$496 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 66%441$89,457$532,300$353 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents · more walkable

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.