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 Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Thousand Oaks: median income $119,296, home value $937,000, $551/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Edmonds, WA 98026 92%958$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Kaneohe, HI 96744 89%2,520$131,653$1,039,900$690 pricier homes ($103K more) · 6 min longer commute
Pearl City, HI 96782 89%2,529$108,669$874,200$603 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Honolulu, HI 96816 89%2,524$114,609$1,168,800$730 pricier homes ($232K more)
Seattle, WA 98155 89%953$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Aiea, HI 96701 88%2,528$111,173$941,600$542 more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98166 87%933$114,969$824,400$420 cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Belmar, NJ 07719 84%2,474$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($236K less) · smaller
Mililani, HI 96789 84%2,530$127,066$920,400$602 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98146 84%936$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($258K less)
Tacoma, WA 98407 84%923$110,288$656,600$414 cheaper homes ($280K less) · smaller
Boca Raton, FL 33486 82%2,361$105,540$664,100$530 cheaper homes ($273K less) · smaller
Winter Park, FL 32789 81%2,234$106,671$791,400$464 cheaper homes ($146K less) · smaller
Scottsdale, AZ 85254 81%399$123,203$785,700$426 cheaper homes ($151K less) · newer homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84121 80%589$115,515$659,900$294 cheaper homes ($277K less)
Danvers, MA 01923 79%2,623$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($293K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 79%2,475$123,152$627,200$556 cheaper homes ($310K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Dallas, TX 75229 79%1,268$121,469$631,700$335 cheaper homes ($305K less) · younger residents
Everett, WA 98203 79%964$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($328K less)
Mukilteo, WA 98275 79%964$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · newer homes
Tacoma, WA 98406 79%921$104,264$638,400$347 cheaper homes ($299K less) · smaller
Burlington, MA 01803 78%2,610$146,436$740,600$441 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($196K less) · smaller
Stoneham, MA 02180 78%2,616$113,964$671,900$437 cheaper homes ($265K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Waltham, MA 02451 78%2,608$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($184K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Annandale, VA 22003 78%2,315$138,794$732,400$338 cheaper homes ($205K 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.