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.

Reset

Towns most like Alpine, CA 91901

Alpine: median income $114,167, home value $852,000, $456/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Enumclaw, WA 98022 89%1,035$120,406$608,500$352 cheaper homes ($244K less)
Snohomish, WA 98290 89%1,077$132,973$784,200$407 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Monroe, WA 98272 88%1,073$122,352$713,300$396 cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger
Stanwood, WA 98292 88%1,102$101,765$654,100$338 cheaper homes ($198K less) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98422 87%1,042$118,604$663,800$358 cheaper homes ($188K less)
Auburn, WA 98001 84%1,041$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($265K less) · larger
Bridgewater, MA 02324 83%2,559$112,726$533,600$318 cheaper homes ($318K less)
Holtsville, NY 11742 83%2,453$125,162$510,200$394 cheaper homes ($342K less)
East Moriches, NY 11940 83%2,469$138,639$661,600$432 cheaper homes ($190K less) · smaller
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 83%700$109,129$798,900$438 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Renton, WA 98058 83%1,048$115,201$676,000$385 cheaper homes ($176K less) · larger
Arlington, WA 98223 83%1,097$99,681$601,400$389 cheaper homes ($251K less) · larger
Washougal, WA 98671 83%930$111,545$586,100$296 cheaper homes ($266K less)
Lakeville, MA 02347 82%2,560$133,984$565,900$358 cheaper homes ($286K less) · smaller
Raynham, MA 02767 82%2,555$124,105$522,400$332 cheaper homes ($330K less)
Manorville, NY 11949 82%2,466$138,864$601,600$339 cheaper homes ($250K less)
Kent, WA 98042 82%1,043$127,552$658,500$339 cheaper homes ($194K less) · larger
Tewksbury, MA 01876 81%2,546$130,204$577,000$382 cheaper homes ($275K less) · larger
Kingston, MA 02364 81%2,571$119,876$610,600$386 cheaper homes ($241K less)
Holbrook, NY 11741 81%2,452$144,346$536,900$403 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($315K less)
Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776 81%2,453$120,573$496,600$337 cheaper homes ($355K less) · older homes
Puyallup, WA 98371 81%1,035$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($295K less)
North Billerica, MA 01862 80%2,542$138,571$586,200$367 cheaper homes ($266K less) · smaller
Bellport, NY 11713 80%2,459$108,173$482,800$421 cheaper homes ($369K less) · smaller
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 80%2,449$112,180$487,300$436 cheaper homes ($365K less) · larger · older homes

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.