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 Mesa, AZ 85207

Mesa: median income $108,699, home value $505,000, $282/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Melbourne, FL 32940 92%1,865$110,495$467,000$250 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Indio, CA 92203 92%267$97,311$553,700$263 pricier homes ($49K more) · younger residents
Bluffton, SC 29910 91%1,782$98,912$487,000$259 Very close on everything we compare
Vancouver, WA 98686 90%1,029$107,801$596,700$294 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller
Niceville, FL 32578 89%1,485$108,972$447,700$257 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older homes
Hudson, WI 54016 89%1,284$113,085$452,000$224 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Washougal, WA 98671 89%1,013$111,545$586,100$296 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller · younger residents
Port Orange, FL 32128 88%1,827$95,831$422,300$225 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller
Muskego, WI 53150 88%1,429$109,276$416,400$250 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · older homes
Longmont, CO 80504 88%592$113,643$591,700$230 pricier homes ($87K more) · younger residents
Hayden, ID 83835 88%1,027$91,316$562,000$337 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Henderson, NV 89011 88%262$93,136$478,900$248 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more renters
Las Vegas, NV 89131 88%284$116,468$531,900$248 pricier homes ($27K more) · more single-family homes
Sparks, NV 89436 88%619$114,100$588,500$303 pricier homes ($84K more) · younger residents
Poulsbo, WA 98370 88%1,142$116,756$628,600$314 pricier homes ($124K more) · smaller
Olympia, WA 98513 88%1,103$113,053$470,700$296 cheaper homes ($34K less) · younger residents
Denver, NC 28037 87%1,745$111,703$491,900$235 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Fleming Island, FL 32003 87%1,767$116,611$422,400$209 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 87%1,455$100,396$388,000$221 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller
West Palm Beach, FL 33411 87%1,931$92,591$441,600$251 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Boerne, TX 78006 87%800$116,156$543,900$229 pricier homes ($39K more)
Battle Ground, WA 98604 87%1,030$112,448$589,800$299 pricier homes ($85K more) · younger residents
Ridgefield, WA 98642 87%1,034$120,822$652,400$301 pricier homes ($147K more) · smaller · younger residents
Williamsburg, VA 23188 86%1,972$103,160$449,900$224 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Apopka, FL 32712 86%1,806$108,734$422,700$208 cheaper homes ($82K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer 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.