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 80005

Arvada: median income $136,821, home value $649,800, $255/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sandy, UT 84092 94%354$151,500$764,800$273 pricier homes ($115K more)
Millersville, MD 21108 93%1,514$151,324$555,000$241 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller
West Linn, OR 97068 93%968$151,729$796,400$329 pricier homes ($147K more)
Arnold, MD 21012 92%1,521$139,432$563,800$270 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Annapolis, MD 21409 92%1,524$147,151$535,500$286 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Chalfont, PA 18914 91%1,574$148,824$491,300$272 cheaper homes ($159K less)
Cheshire, CT 06410 90%1,682$145,179$438,900$262 cheaper homes ($211K less)
Severna Park, MD 21146 90%1,518$172,122$659,800$317 higher income ($35K more)
East Greenwich, RI 02818 88%1,754$139,217$613,500$342 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Bedford, NH 03110 88%1,742$167,418$612,100$302 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($38K less)
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 88%1,591$155,059$443,400$252 cheaper homes ($206K less)
Charlotte, NC 28270 88%1,369$131,667$589,500$271 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Marietta, GA 30062 88%1,206$132,631$491,200$220 cheaper homes ($159K less) · larger
Marietta, GA 30068 88%1,209$150,101$599,400$228 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Roswell, GA 30075 88%1,209$157,335$611,500$244 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Longwood, FL 32779 88%1,549$121,826$480,200$249 cheaper homes ($170K less)
Knoxville, TN 37934 88%1,171$132,264$529,100$241 cheaper homes ($121K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Minnetonka, MN 55345 88%688$145,332$504,000$227 cheaper homes ($146K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Geneva, IL 60134 88%888$152,727$448,900$249 cheaper homes ($201K less) · newer homes
Cranston, RI 02921 87%1,751$147,204$535,800$293 cheaper homes ($114K less) · smaller
Collegeville, PA 19426 87%1,563$151,748$498,700$250 cheaper homes ($151K less) · larger · newer homes
Schwenksville, PA 19473 87%1,561$138,819$476,300$248 cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller
Hockessin, DE 19707 87%1,554$172,696$556,600$211 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Midlothian, VA 23113 87%1,484$142,344$614,100$235 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Excelsior, MN 55331 87%684$159,450$737,000$273 pricier homes ($87K more) · older 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.