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 Oceanside, CA 92057

Oceanside: median income $108,814, home value $743,200, $477/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Everett, WA 98208 96%1,044$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Kent, WA 98031 94%1,010$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($132K less)
Federal Way, WA 98023 92%1,007$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98037 90%1,041$107,281$767,300$393 smaller
Renton, WA 98058 90%1,013$115,201$676,000$385 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Kapolei, HI 96707 89%2,617$119,940$808,300$598 pricier homes ($65K more)
Waipahu, HI 96797 89%2,611$114,654$826,300$635 pricier homes ($83K more)
Lynnwood, WA 98036 89%1,039$88,958$759,900$437 Very close on everything we compare
Marysville, WA 98270 89%1,055$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($163K less)
Everett, WA 98203 88%1,047$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller · older homes
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 87%704$109,129$798,900$438 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Ewa Beach, HI 96706 86%2,613$129,456$830,100$637 pricier homes ($87K more)
Auburn, WA 98001 86%1,006$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($156K less) · smaller
Renton, WA 98056 86%1,018$113,688$797,300$467 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller · more renters
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 85%2,262$106,149$576,700$294 cheaper homes ($167K less)
Pearl City, HI 96782 85%2,608$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($131K more) · smaller · older homes
Mililani, HI 96789 85%2,609$127,066$920,400$602 pricier homes ($177K more)
Oregon City, OR 97045 85%882$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($156K less)
Auburn, WA 98092 85%1,002$122,300$635,900$324 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Puyallup, WA 98371 84%999$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($186K less) · smaller
Newberg, OR 97132 83%887$96,493$522,900$310 cheaper homes ($220K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33186 82%2,268$93,462$465,400$338 cheaper homes ($278K less)
Old Bridge, NJ 08857 81%2,404$109,312$486,600$372 cheaper homes ($257K less) · older homes
Amityville, NY 11701 81%2,451$117,033$499,500$442 cheaper homes ($244K less) · smaller · older homes
Miami, FL 33176 81%2,271$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($104K 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.