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 90061

Los Angeles: median income $61,046, home value $601,500, $457/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Aurora, CO 80010 85%842$63,579$424,600$305 cheaper homes ($177K less)
Miami, FL 33161 83%2,334$58,325$441,700$405 cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger · older residents
Tacoma, WA 98444 81%939$65,342$416,400$310 cheaper homes ($185K less) · newer homes
Lake Worth, FL 33460 80%2,322$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($196K less)
Lakewood, WA 98499 79%941$67,292$408,500$327 cheaper homes ($193K less) · newer homes
Plainfield, NJ 07060 78%2,430$78,602$393,800$348 cheaper homes ($208K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33150 77%2,333$40,873$453,400$404 cheaper homes ($148K less)
Everett, WA 98201 76%993$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($102K less) · older residents
Miami, FL 33147 75%2,332$50,704$381,000$374 cheaper homes ($221K less) · larger · older residents
Miami, FL 33162 75%2,333$60,692$403,300$355 cheaper homes ($198K less) · larger · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75220 75%1,235$69,843$500,200$388 cheaper homes ($101K less) · newer homes
Brockton, MA 02301 74%2,598$74,214$449,400$321 cheaper homes ($152K less) · larger · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33169 74%2,330$62,562$403,200$328 cheaper homes ($198K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Tacoma, WA 98409 74%943$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($207K less) · newer homes
Elizabeth, NJ 07208 73%2,439$65,511$459,200$321 cheaper homes ($142K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 73%2,437$64,491$370,900$328 cheaper homes ($231K less) · larger · older residents
Opa Locka, FL 33054 73%2,329$45,710$335,800$398 cheaper homes ($266K less) · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33127 73%2,334$41,230$408,800$464 cheaper homes ($193K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85006 73%359$58,248$408,100$311 cheaper homes ($193K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97233 73%831$60,198$414,600$267 cheaper homes ($187K less) · older residents · newer homes
Lynn, MA 01905 72%2,600$84,333$499,200$377 cheaper homes ($102K less) · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85007 72%357$63,616$480,600$340 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Lawrence, MA 01843 71%2,590$67,585$429,100$334 cheaper homes ($172K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Fairview, NJ 07022 71%2,451$63,606$511,400$389 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · older residents
Paterson, NJ 07502 70%2,440$76,790$375,300$381 cheaper homes ($226K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter 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.