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 San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

San Juan Capistrano: median income $129,457, home value $993,800, $697/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kaneohe, HI 96744 92%2,581$131,653$1,039,900$690 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Mililani, HI 96789 92%2,592$127,066$920,400$602 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Aiea, HI 96701 90%2,589$111,173$941,600$542 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Pearl City, HI 96782 86%2,590$108,669$874,200$603 cheaper homes ($120K less) · more renters
Edmonds, WA 98026 85%1,019$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($172K less)
Honolulu, HI 96825 82%2,579$153,210$1,088,700$759 pricier homes ($95K more) · 6 min longer commute
Carbondale, CO 81623 81%703$109,661$913,300$681 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · newer homes
Belmar, NJ 07719 80%2,429$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($293K less) · smaller
Mukilteo, WA 98275 78%1,025$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33156 77%2,296$137,076$1,120,100$619 pricier homes ($126K more)
Honolulu, HI 96816 77%2,585$114,609$1,168,800$730 pricier homes ($175K more) · more renters · older homes
Edmonds, WA 98020 77%1,018$130,319$1,031,500$625 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · older residents
Burlington, MA 01803 76%2,571$146,436$740,600$441 cheaper homes ($253K less)
Danvers, MA 01923 76%2,584$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($350K less) · older homes
Boca Raton, FL 33486 76%2,289$105,540$664,100$530 cheaper homes ($330K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98155 76%1,014$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($177K less) · younger residents
Reno, NV 89511 74%425$124,130$916,600$484 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Waipahu, HI 96797 74%2,593$114,654$826,300$635 cheaper homes ($168K less) · larger · more renters
Tewksbury, MA 01876 73%2,569$130,204$577,000$382 cheaper homes ($417K less)
Mahwah, NJ 07430 73%2,420$131,327$606,000$427 cheaper homes ($388K less)
Wailuku, HI 96793 73%2,524$107,668$832,400$656 cheaper homes ($161K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Kenmore, WA 98028 73%1,013$139,764$920,800$474 cheaper homes ($73K less) · younger residents
Renton, WA 98059 73%995$138,654$872,000$451 cheaper homes ($122K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Stoneham, MA 02180 72%2,576$113,964$671,900$437 cheaper homes ($322K less) · smaller · older homes
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 72%2,430$123,152$627,200$556 cheaper homes ($367K less) · more single-family 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.