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 Northridge, CA 91325

Northridge: median income $87,168, home value $944,500, $530/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33138 91%2,350$75,051$784,700$560 cheaper homes ($160K less)
Seattle, WA 98133 91%954$93,662$770,300$459 cheaper homes ($174K less) · larger
Glen Cove, NY 11542 87%2,474$93,242$702,400$499 cheaper homes ($242K less) · older residents
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 86%957$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($277K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98108 86%940$95,780$720,400$423 cheaper homes ($224K less)
Woburn, MA 01801 85%2,594$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($271K less)
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 85%2,455$96,725$616,300$447 cheaper homes ($328K less)
Seattle, WA 98125 85%952$99,868$874,300$489 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Long Branch, NJ 07740 84%2,458$79,870$578,800$453 cheaper homes ($366K less)
Miami, FL 33166 83%2,345$81,581$530,300$453 cheaper homes ($414K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98036 83%958$88,958$759,900$437 cheaper homes ($185K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Miami, FL 33176 82%2,345$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($306K less) · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96819 82%2,546$99,848$954,600$477 Very close on everything we compare
Tacoma, WA 98466 82%922$101,778$602,400$351 cheaper homes ($342K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85018 81%378$93,885$862,000$517 cheaper homes ($83K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98118 81%940$113,762$810,500$480 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($134K less)
Seattle, WA 98144 81%943$96,969$901,700$489 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Port Chester, NY 10573 80%2,470$105,686$662,900$510 cheaper homes ($282K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Takoma Park, MD 20912 80%2,306$83,870$699,300$413 cheaper homes ($245K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Denver, CO 80214 80%833$75,575$559,100$387 cheaper homes ($385K less)
Renton, WA 98056 80%936$113,688$797,300$467 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($147K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98198 80%930$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($355K less)
Miami, FL 33143 79%2,348$83,008$857,200$738 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Beverly, MA 01915 78%2,608$104,918$649,700$475 cheaper homes ($295K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Norwood, MA 02062 78%2,593$107,030$651,700$432 cheaper homes ($293K 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.