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 Escondido, CA 92029

Escondido: median income $124,726, home value $985,500, $497/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carbondale, CO 81623 91%697$109,661$913,300$681 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Edmonds, WA 98026 91%1,054$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($164K less) · larger
Mukilteo, WA 98275 91%1,060$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Pompano Beach, FL 33067 89%2,250$131,216$745,700$351 cheaper homes ($240K less)
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 89%703$109,129$798,900$438 cheaper homes ($187K less)
Gig Harbor, WA 98335 89%1,023$128,592$791,100$401 cheaper homes ($194K less)
Mililani, HI 96789 88%2,619$127,066$920,400$602 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Kenmore, WA 98028 88%1,048$139,764$920,800$474 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Renton, WA 98059 88%1,030$138,654$872,000$451 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · younger residents
Burlington, MA 01803 85%2,557$146,436$740,600$441 cheaper homes ($245K less) · older homes
Reno, NV 89511 85%461$124,130$916,600$484 cheaper homes ($69K less) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Belmar, NJ 07719 84%2,412$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($285K less) · older homes
Aiea, HI 96701 84%2,616$111,173$941,600$542 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Kaneohe, HI 96744 84%2,608$131,653$1,039,900$690 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · older homes
Renton, WA 98058 84%1,026$115,201$676,000$385 cheaper homes ($310K less) · larger · younger residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328 83%2,254$126,380$578,300$357 cheaper homes ($407K less)
Seattle, WA 98155 83%1,049$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($169K less) · larger · older homes
Pearl City, HI 96782 82%2,617$108,669$874,200$603 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · older homes
North Billerica, MA 01862 81%2,552$138,571$586,200$367 cheaper homes ($399K less) · smaller
Mansfield, MA 02048 81%2,556$125,273$603,500$353 cheaper homes ($382K less)
North Easton, MA 02356 81%2,562$127,224$650,300$348 cheaper homes ($335K less) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33331 81%2,249$142,636$712,000$413 cheaper homes ($274K less) · more single-family homes
Tewksbury, MA 01876 80%2,555$130,204$577,000$382 cheaper homes ($409K less)
Saint James, NY 11780 80%2,458$144,577$723,200$466 cheaper homes ($262K less) · more homeowners
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 80%1,817$107,821$684,700$469 cheaper homes ($301K less) · newer 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.