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 Arvada, CO 80003

Arvada: median income $91,464, home value $534,700, $265/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 96%1,714$93,603$495,000$298 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Modesto, CA 95356 96%871$96,886$532,600$278 Very close on everything we compare
Beaverton, OR 97078 94%978$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Forest Grove, OR 97116 93%999$92,613$495,800$262 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Lanham, MD 20706 92%1,501$104,523$429,000$242 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Newberg, OR 97132 92%984$96,493$522,900$310 newer homes
Portland, OR 97267 92%969$87,418$533,400$295 older residents
Everett, WA 98203 92%1,018$107,376$608,600$359 pricier homes ($74K more)
Glendale, AZ 85306 91%582$84,779$392,500$257 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Salem, OR 97303 91%980$84,871$433,900$263 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Bremerton, WA 98312 91%1,027$90,449$473,100$290 cheaper homes ($62K less) · less walkable
Lakewood, WA 98498 91%1,009$91,664$506,300$324 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Turlock, CA 95382 90%865$95,282$491,700$308 cheaper homes ($43K less) · newer homes
Gresham, OR 97080 90%962$96,305$502,000$269 cheaper homes ($33K less) · newer homes
Federal Way, WA 98023 90%1,005$104,893$589,900$320 pricier homes ($55K more)
Kent, WA 98031 90%1,000$105,965$611,600$349 pricier homes ($77K more)
Attleboro, MA 02703 89%1,758$99,152$448,800$316 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Highland, CA 92346 89%776$85,163$499,200$331 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Yucaipa, CA 92399 89%773$92,440$511,200$334 larger
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 89%871$89,484$491,100$319 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · more renters
Sacramento, CA 95827 89%874$85,841$437,300$332 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Puyallup, WA 98371 89%1,000$97,242$556,800$323 Very close on everything we compare
Longwood, FL 32750 88%1,549$86,125$383,000$234 cheaper homes ($152K less)
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 88%1,707$106,149$576,700$294 pricier homes ($42K more) · newer homes
Sandy, UT 84094 88%362$106,732$528,700$264 6 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.