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 Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Laguna Hills: median income $133,194, home value $1,063,300, $666/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33156 93%2,299$137,076$1,120,100$619 pricier homes ($57K more)
Mililani, HI 96789 90%2,590$127,066$920,400$602 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger
Kirkland, WA 98034 90%1,004$135,219$946,300$565 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger
Kenmore, WA 98028 89%1,007$139,764$920,800$474 cheaper homes ($143K less)
Edmonds, WA 98026 88%1,013$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($242K less)
Mukilteo, WA 98275 88%1,018$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($178K less)
Seattle, WA 98155 87%1,007$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($247K less)
Kailua, HI 96734 86%2,576$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($304K more) · larger
Carbondale, CO 81623 84%702$109,661$913,300$681 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller · newer homes
Aiea, HI 96701 84%2,587$111,173$941,600$542 cheaper homes ($122K less)
Kaneohe, HI 96744 84%2,579$131,653$1,039,900$690 larger
Bothell, WA 98011 83%1,006$131,667$933,000$486 cheaper homes ($130K less) · newer homes
Edmonds, WA 98020 83%1,012$130,319$1,031,500$625 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · older residents
Issaquah, WA 98027 83%987$153,301$996,600$507 cheaper homes ($67K less) · less walkable
Honolulu, HI 96825 82%2,577$153,210$1,088,700$759 pricier homes ($25K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Waltham, MA 02451 81%2,568$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($310K less) · smaller · older homes
Honolulu, HI 96816 81%2,583$114,609$1,168,800$730 pricier homes ($106K more) · larger · older homes
Florham Park, NJ 07932 80%2,410$156,458$791,100$530 cheaper homes ($272K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98106 80%993$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($357K less) · younger residents
Burlington, MA 01803 79%2,570$146,436$740,600$441 cheaper homes ($323K less)
Stoneham, MA 02180 79%2,575$113,964$671,900$437 cheaper homes ($391K less) · older homes
Falls Church, VA 22042 79%2,268$138,255$715,800$426 cheaper homes ($348K less) · older homes
Boca Raton, FL 33486 79%2,292$105,540$664,100$530 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($399K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Renton, WA 98059 79%989$138,654$872,000$451 cheaper homes ($191K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98126 79%994$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($280K less) · 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.