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 Irvine, CA 92604

Irvine: median income $133,869, home value $1,058,000, $830/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33156 88%2,304$137,076$1,120,100$619 pricier homes ($62K more)
Seattle, WA 98116 84%989$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($85K less) · 5 min longer commute · more renters
Miami, FL 33133 83%2,307$103,420$1,022,400$923 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($36K less)
Boulder, CO 80304 83%818$126,558$1,210,200$619 pricier homes ($152K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Kirkland, WA 98034 83%996$135,219$946,300$565 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · younger residents
Florham Park, NJ 07932 80%2,412$156,458$791,100$530 cheaper homes ($267K less) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22043 80%2,270$145,881$881,600$456 cheaper homes ($176K less) · younger residents
Houston, TX 77024 80%1,333$136,149$1,127,500$414 pricier homes ($70K more)
Greenwich, CT 06830 79%2,451$146,654$1,660,700$858 pricier homes ($603K more) · older homes
Edmonds, WA 98020 78%1,004$130,319$1,031,500$625 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98126 78%987$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($274K less) · younger residents
Falls Church, VA 22046 77%2,271$168,882$1,014,700$476 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($43K less)
Bellevue, WA 98005 77%989$160,849$1,519,500$613 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($462K more) · younger residents
Bothell, WA 98011 77%998$131,667$933,000$486 cheaper homes ($125K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Waltham, MA 02451 76%2,569$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($305K less) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75214 76%1,215$132,313$777,100$431 cheaper homes ($281K less) · younger residents
Kailua, HI 96734 76%2,572$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($310K more) · larger · younger residents
Honolulu, HI 96816 75%2,579$114,609$1,168,800$730 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Kirkland, WA 98033 75%993$182,500$1,491,700$742 higher income ($49K more) · pricier homes ($434K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98136 75%986$149,269$925,000$544 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Morristown, NJ 07960 73%2,407$160,334$735,600$476 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($322K less) · larger
Harrison, NY 10528 73%2,446$154,416$937,500$598 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Winter Park, FL 32789 73%2,172$106,671$791,400$464 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($267K less) · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33134 73%2,303$99,766$711,800$594 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($346K less) · older homes
Dallas, TX 75209 73%1,210$134,707$864,200$391 cheaper homes ($194K less) · smaller · younger residents

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.