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 Layton, UT 84040

Layton: median income $128,365, home value $542,500, $210/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Virginia Beach, VA 23456 91%1,939$130,533$474,700$251 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Cottage Grove, MN 55016 91%992$120,715$377,700$202 cheaper homes ($165K less)
Prior Lake, MN 55372 91%968$145,499$467,400$206 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Lewisville, TX 75077 91%986$127,211$464,000$219 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Savage, MN 55378 90%972$124,871$430,900$189 cheaper homes ($112K less)
West Richland, WA 99353 90%518$121,845$450,500$271 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Eagle River, AK 99577 90%2,095$136,900$437,000$262 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Granville, OH 43023 89%1,537$142,852$473,100$220 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Springboro, OH 45066 89%1,457$131,250$393,500$181 cheaper homes ($149K less)
Lakeville, MN 55044 89%975$141,551$488,600$201 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Kansas City, MO 64152 89%916$114,688$375,400$184 cheaper homes ($167K less)
Gilbert, AZ 85234 89%534$121,102$550,900$291 larger
Mechanicsville, VA 23116 88%1,851$141,711$433,900$228 cheaper homes ($109K less) · older residents
Wilmington, NC 28409 88%1,911$111,048$422,600$252 cheaper homes ($120K less) · older residents
Rosemount, MN 55068 88%982$127,798$395,900$198 cheaper homes ($147K less)
Rogers, MN 55374 88%965$144,714$462,000$193 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · newer homes
Waconia, MN 55387 88%951$114,511$440,300$215 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
Glendale, AZ 85310 88%510$122,137$552,900$276 Very close on everything we compare
Watkinsville, GA 30677 87%1,633$110,250$435,600$220 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Crestwood, KY 40014 87%1,414$121,189$393,700$187 cheaper homes ($149K less)
Pickerington, OH 43147 87%1,528$126,534$348,300$185 cheaper homes ($194K less) · larger
Waukesha, WI 53189 87%1,216$117,008$406,200$243 cheaper homes ($136K less) · older residents
Hudson, WI 54016 87%1,004$113,085$452,000$224 cheaper homes ($91K less) · older residents
Byron, MN 55920 87%1,001$131,336$372,600$193 cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller
Saint Charles, MO 63304 87%1,138$114,442$351,000$198 cheaper homes ($192K less) · 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.