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 90040

Los Angeles: median income $74,472, home value $596,100, $466/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98168 82%957$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Keansburg, NJ 07734 80%2,437$82,029$346,900$340 cheaper homes ($249K less)
Paterson, NJ 07502 79%2,432$76,790$375,300$381 cheaper homes ($221K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33167 79%2,325$62,846$381,100$335 cheaper homes ($215K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85007 78%350$63,616$480,600$340 cheaper homes ($116K less)
New Bedford, MA 02745 76%2,597$74,034$368,600$316 cheaper homes ($228K less) · larger
Plainfield, NJ 07063 76%2,420$93,304$392,500$383 cheaper homes ($204K less) · younger residents
Denver, CO 80219 76%824$68,415$454,600$344 cheaper homes ($142K less) · larger
Dover, NJ 07801 75%2,414$84,517$392,400$366 cheaper homes ($204K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Miami Gardens, FL 33056 74%2,322$68,583$372,200$370 cheaper homes ($224K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Hialeah, FL 33013 73%2,323$60,658$436,800$345 cheaper homes ($159K less) · larger · older residents
Miami, FL 33144 73%2,323$60,907$479,200$414 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger · older residents
Brockton, MA 02302 72%2,592$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($171K less) · larger · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33162 72%2,326$60,692$403,300$355 cheaper homes ($193K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 72%2,322$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($173K less) · larger
Portland, OR 97216 72%829$70,442$450,800$329 cheaper homes ($145K less)
Portland, OR 97220 72%831$70,137$450,200$325 cheaper homes ($146K less) · larger
Portland, OR 97266 72%827$72,577$445,700$302 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger · newer homes
Bremerton, WA 98310 72%969$75,878$440,500$286 cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger · newer homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 71%2,322$75,361$469,700$375 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Westminster, CO 80030 71%828$61,092$439,400$268 cheaper homes ($157K less)
Tacoma, WA 98408 71%940$80,899$410,500$320 cheaper homes ($186K less) · larger · more homeowners
Roselle, NJ 07203 70%2,430$92,762$379,900$350 cheaper homes ($216K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
South Hackensack, NJ 07606 70%2,440$84,527$546,500$484 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Vancouver, WA 98663 70%840$86,018$450,300$299 cheaper homes ($146K less)

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.