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 Lakewood, CA 90715

Lakewood: median income $91,875, home value $743,200, $567/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Honolulu, HI 96819 88%2,567$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($211K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98168 86%968$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger
Glen Cove, NY 11542 85%2,462$93,242$702,400$499 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98108 84%972$95,780$720,400$423 Very close on everything we compare
Seattle, WA 98198 84%962$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($154K less) · larger
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 83%989$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Long Branch, NJ 07740 81%2,445$79,870$578,800$453 cheaper homes ($164K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 80%2,318$88,309$498,100$404 cheaper homes ($245K less)
Seattle, WA 98146 80%970$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($64K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98148 79%966$87,342$607,900$331 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98201 79%1,001$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($243K less) · larger
Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 78%2,436$101,740$483,700$369 cheaper homes ($260K less)
Hempstead, NY 11550 78%2,463$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($278K less) · larger
Hyde Park, MA 02136 77%2,586$96,737$578,400$426 cheaper homes ($165K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Carteret, NJ 07008 77%2,432$97,021$406,000$355 cheaper homes ($337K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98036 77%989$88,958$759,900$437 larger · newer homes
Woburn, MA 01801 76%2,584$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Weymouth, MA 02188 76%2,595$107,335$594,000$396 cheaper homes ($149K less)
Norwalk, CT 06854 76%2,472$86,679$460,500$436 cheaper homes ($283K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Linden, NJ 07036 76%2,430$91,882$417,900$463 cheaper homes ($325K less) · larger
Rahway, NJ 07065 76%2,429$91,461$386,400$395 cheaper homes ($357K less)
Dover, NJ 07801 76%2,414$84,517$392,400$366 cheaper homes ($351K less)
Parlin, NJ 08859 76%2,428$99,882$445,800$372 cheaper homes ($297K less)
Miami, FL 33166 76%2,318$81,581$530,300$453 cheaper homes ($213K less)
Miami, FL 33176 76%2,318$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · more homeowners

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.