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 Palm Desert, CA 92211

Palm Desert: median income $88,477, home value $583,900, $305/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sarasota, FL 34238 91%2,056$97,926$574,600$255 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Augustine, FL 32080 90%2,068$92,531$535,800$339 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Bonita Springs, FL 34135 88%2,121$91,380$461,200$275 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 87%2,055$97,948$639,400$351 pricier homes ($56K more) · younger residents
Venice, FL 34292 86%2,066$80,101$452,100$212 cheaper homes ($132K less) · smaller
Lewes, DE 19958 85%2,300$97,197$534,600$266 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 85%2,305$102,146$608,800$339 smaller · more homeowners
Boynton Beach, FL 33437 85%2,208$80,710$424,200$228 cheaper homes ($160K less) · more homeowners
Naples, FL 34110 85%2,122$97,564$579,700$366 more apartments and townhomes
Nokomis, FL 34275 85%2,060$89,369$473,400$250 cheaper homes ($111K less) · more homeowners
Chandler, AZ 85248 84%261$94,495$527,800$275 cheaper homes ($56K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Pawleys Island, SC 29585 83%2,129$81,946$463,400$273 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Naples, FL 34113 83%2,130$81,674$480,000$323 cheaper homes ($104K less) · younger residents
Punta Gorda, FL 33950 82%2,088$76,369$433,800$246 cheaper homes ($150K less) · 7 min longer commute
Prescott, AZ 86303 82%232$72,359$563,000$321 more single-family homes
Sequim, WA 98382 82%1,050$74,189$493,900$308 cheaper homes ($90K less) · more single-family homes
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 81%2,151$71,723$413,800$273 cheaper homes ($170K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Bradenton, FL 34209 81%2,042$81,728$390,700$256 cheaper homes ($193K less) · younger residents
Prescott, AZ 86301 81%231$72,652$515,400$313 cheaper homes ($69K less) · younger residents
Hampton, NH 03842 80%2,514$95,422$548,500$423 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · younger residents
Estero, FL 33928 80%2,115$102,624$465,500$248 cheaper homes ($118K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Naples, FL 34105 80%2,124$92,214$594,000$277 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Naples, FL 34114 80%2,139$89,334$538,000$320 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Englewood, FL 34223 80%2,070$76,016$408,000$291 cheaper homes ($176K less) · more homeowners
Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 79%2,037$108,632$571,100$344 smaller · more homeowners

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.