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 Los Angeles, CA 90022

Los Angeles: median income $67,967, home value $629,500, $472/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Aurora, CO 80010 78%833$63,579$424,600$305 cheaper homes ($205K less) · newer homes
Plainfield, NJ 07060 76%2,421$78,602$393,800$348 cheaper homes ($236K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33161 74%2,328$58,325$441,700$405 cheaper homes ($188K less) · newer homes
Brockton, MA 02301 72%2,589$74,214$449,400$321 cheaper homes ($180K less) · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Hempstead, NY 11550 72%2,462$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($164K less) · more homeowners
Lake Worth, FL 33460 72%2,315$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($224K less) · smaller · newer homes
Everett, WA 98201 72%987$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33162 70%2,326$60,692$403,300$355 cheaper homes ($226K less) · more homeowners
Lynn, MA 01905 69%2,591$84,333$499,200$377 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 69%2,429$64,491$370,900$328 cheaper homes ($259K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33147 69%2,325$50,704$381,000$374 cheaper homes ($249K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Tacoma, WA 98444 69%934$65,342$416,400$310 cheaper homes ($213K less) · smaller · newer homes
Lynn, MA 01902 67%2,593$67,046$478,000$348 cheaper homes ($152K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Lakewood, WA 98499 67%936$67,292$408,500$327 cheaper homes ($221K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Phoenix, AZ 85006 66%353$58,248$408,100$311 cheaper homes ($221K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85007 66%351$63,616$480,600$340 cheaper homes ($149K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Lawrence, MA 01843 65%2,581$67,585$429,100$334 cheaper homes ($200K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Clifton, NJ 07011 65%2,434$74,194$428,900$426 cheaper homes ($201K less) · smaller · older residents
Elizabeth, NJ 07208 65%2,431$65,511$459,200$321 cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Paterson, NJ 07502 65%2,431$76,790$375,300$381 cheaper homes ($254K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33150 65%2,327$40,873$453,400$404 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($176K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80219 65%823$68,415$454,600$344 cheaper homes ($175K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98168 65%955$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Lowell, MA 01850 64%2,574$69,780$390,800$313 cheaper homes ($239K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Dover, NJ 07801 64%2,413$84,517$392,400$366 cheaper homes ($237K less) · smaller · 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.