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 Denver, CO 80202

Denver: median income $114,151, home value $722,700, $467/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75201 90%662$103,761$688,100$614 cheaper homes ($35K less) · more renters
Seattle, WA 98101 90%1,019$128,882$784,200$657 pricier homes ($62K more)
Chicago, IL 60601 89%919$121,458$526,200$494 cheaper homes ($197K less)
Miami, FL 33132 87%1,725$109,109$524,300$550 cheaper homes ($198K less)
Seattle, WA 98121 87%1,020$152,019$848,400$575 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($126K more)
Tampa, FL 33602 86%1,521$97,320$653,100$431 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Stamford, CT 06901 84%1,649$102,641$478,700$463 cheaper homes ($244K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98109 84%1,020$133,663$1,034,100$649 pricier homes ($311K more) · larger
Houston, TX 77027 83%878$103,812$859,500$362 pricier homes ($137K more) · more single-family homes
Charlotte, NC 28202 82%1,356$105,889$443,500$361 cheaper homes ($279K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55415 82%699$124,921$625,500$406 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Charlotte, NC 28203 81%1,356$104,696$707,800$459 younger residents · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33131 81%1,726$144,138$655,100$622 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($68K less) · more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28204 80%1,357$92,054$585,200$326 cheaper homes ($138K less) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60642 80%917$143,175$593,600$385 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($129K less) · older homes
Los Angeles, CA 90010 80%832$101,455$834,100$601 pricier homes ($111K more) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22203 79%1,486$140,135$826,800$511 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($104K more) · older homes
Chicago, IL 60607 79%917$127,732$499,700$417 cheaper homes ($223K less) · larger · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55401 78%698$113,522$396,500$318 cheaper homes ($326K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75204 78%662$92,253$479,500$314 cheaper homes ($243K less) · larger
San Diego, CA 92108 78%829$103,884$618,700$563 cheaper homes ($104K less) · less walkable
Portland, OR 97209 78%981$80,301$587,300$343 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($135K less)
Arlington, VA 22209 77%1,487$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($97K more) · less walkable · older homes
Chicago, IL 60661 76%918$125,741$392,900$407 cheaper homes ($330K less) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92101 76%833$91,566$793,100$693 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger

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.