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 Mission Hills, CA 91345

Mission Hills: median income $94,215, home value $712,200, $508/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saugus, MA 01906 89%2,597$101,539$603,400$393 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98178 86%935$99,505$660,400$367 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Seattle, WA 98146 85%937$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Lynn, MA 01904 84%2,600$99,614$560,500$391 cheaper homes ($152K less) · more homeowners
Brockton, MA 02302 83%2,600$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($287K less) · larger
Uniondale, NY 11553 81%2,473$121,127$511,600$510 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($201K less)
Kenilworth, NJ 07033 80%2,436$118,611$522,200$471 cheaper homes ($190K less) · smaller
Keyport, NJ 07735 80%2,442$97,536$406,000$382 cheaper homes ($306K less)
Copiague, NY 11726 80%2,483$128,425$481,500$468 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($231K less)
Seattle, WA 98168 80%935$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($164K less) · larger · more renters
Everett, WA 98203 80%965$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · newer homes
Miami, FL 33155 79%2,343$81,158$581,700$490 cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger
South River, NJ 08882 78%2,433$96,147$405,200$331 cheaper homes ($307K less)
Amityville, NY 11701 78%2,482$117,033$499,500$442 cheaper homes ($213K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33165 78%2,340$85,200$519,700$405 cheaper homes ($193K less) · larger · older residents
Pearl City, HI 96782 78%2,553$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($162K more) · larger · newer homes
Middlesex, NJ 08846 77%2,426$105,000$446,400$378 cheaper homes ($266K less)
Seattle, WA 98108 77%939$95,780$720,400$423 Very close on everything we compare
Plainfield, NJ 07062 76%2,431$98,344$396,100$417 cheaper homes ($316K less)
Totowa, NJ 07512 76%2,439$113,563$559,300$401 cheaper homes ($153K less) · smaller
Freeport, NY 11520 76%2,473$121,748$506,100$406 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($206K less) · larger
West Babylon, NY 11704 76%2,485$129,195$527,500$459 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($185K less) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98408 76%918$80,899$410,500$320 cheaper homes ($302K less)
Hillside, NJ 07205 75%2,439$99,528$397,400$353 cheaper homes ($315K less) · younger residents
South Amboy, NJ 08879 75%2,438$92,786$389,800$360 cheaper homes ($322K 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.