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 Whittier, CA 90605

Whittier: median income $99,635, home value $721,400, $587/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Uniondale, NY 11553 86%2,460$121,127$511,600$510 cheaper homes ($210K less)
Seattle, WA 98178 82%961$99,505$660,400$367 cheaper homes ($61K less)
West Babylon, NY 11704 79%2,472$129,195$527,500$459 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($194K less)
Seattle, WA 98146 78%963$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Saugus, MA 01906 77%2,586$101,539$603,400$393 cheaper homes ($118K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Copiague, NY 11726 77%2,470$128,425$481,500$468 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($240K less) · smaller
Brockton, MA 02302 76%2,588$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($297K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Elmont, NY 11003 75%2,454$124,115$599,000$555 cheaper homes ($122K less) · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Freeport, NY 11520 75%2,460$121,748$506,100$406 cheaper homes ($215K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 75%2,483$112,180$487,300$436 cheaper homes ($234K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Lynn, MA 01904 74%2,588$99,614$560,500$391 cheaper homes ($161K less) · smaller · more homeowners
South River, NJ 08882 74%2,419$96,147$405,200$331 cheaper homes ($316K less) · smaller
Roosevelt, NY 11575 74%2,460$126,146$481,500$427 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($240K less) · smaller
Lindenhurst, NY 11757 74%2,471$127,889$508,100$439 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($213K less) · more homeowners
Bay Shore, NY 11706 72%2,478$119,603$494,300$426 cheaper homes ($227K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Keyport, NJ 07735 71%2,429$97,536$406,000$382 cheaper homes ($315K less) · smaller · older residents
Pearl City, HI 96782 71%2,573$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($153K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Patchogue, NY 11772 70%2,491$105,245$474,800$400 cheaper homes ($247K less) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Miami, FL 33157 70%2,319$81,589$547,300$412 cheaper homes ($174K less) · larger · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98168 70%962$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($173K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Everett, WA 98203 70%991$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($113K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Amityville, NY 11701 69%2,469$117,033$499,500$442 cheaper homes ($222K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Tacoma, WA 98404 69%945$82,191$413,900$318 cheaper homes ($308K less) · newer homes
Tacoma, WA 98408 69%945$80,899$410,500$320 cheaper homes ($311K less) · smaller
Randolph, MA 02368 68%2,585$109,665$496,800$346 cheaper homes ($225K less) · more apartments and townhomes

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.