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 Golden, CO 80403

Golden: median income $151,276, home value $838,000, $344/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Franklin, TN 37069 96%1,034$157,939$815,600$349 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33331 92%1,720$142,636$712,000$413 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33332 92%1,718$172,730$909,000$395 pricier homes ($71K more) · smaller
Doylestown, PA 18902 91%1,588$161,267$668,200$301 cheaper homes ($170K less)
Boca Raton, FL 33498 91%1,713$146,765$656,700$333 cheaper homes ($181K less)
Bedford, NH 03110 90%1,752$167,418$612,100$302 cheaper homes ($226K less)
Excelsior, MN 55331 90%692$159,450$737,000$273 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Flower Mound, TX 75022 90%652$177,357$657,400$258 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($181K less)
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 90%847$165,467$916,000$369 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger
West Linn, OR 97068 90%960$151,729$796,400$329 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Falmouth, ME 04105 89%1,811$150,919$767,500$370 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33327 88%1,715$159,388$724,500$412 cheaper homes ($114K less) · younger residents
Granite Bay, CA 95746 88%853$183,305$1,099,500$430 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($262K more)
Gig Harbor, WA 98332 88%1,008$135,330$748,200$399 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Windham, NH 03087 87%1,763$189,583$723,300$322 higher income ($38K more) · cheaper homes ($115K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33330 87%1,721$145,212$755,800$424 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Brentwood, TN 37027 87%1,040$154,578$931,700$346 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85045 87%589$153,583$634,600$280 cheaper homes ($203K less) · smaller
Fresno, CA 93730 87%809$155,333$728,100$304 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Northborough, MA 01532 86%1,749$153,199$620,000$331 cheaper homes ($218K less) · older homes
Westford, MA 01886 86%1,758$187,198$748,500$371 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($90K less)
Midlothian, VA 23113 86%1,494$142,344$614,100$235 cheaper homes ($224K less)
Dripping Springs, TX 78620 86%777$153,477$676,500$239 cheaper homes ($162K less) · newer homes
Austin, TX 78734 86%773$130,784$677,300$274 cheaper homes ($161K less)
Midway, UT 84049 86%330$151,343$891,500$371 pricier homes ($54K more) · 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.