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 Santa Ana, CA 92705

Santa Ana: median income $129,331, home value $1,203,400, $713/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kailua, HI 96734 93%2,573$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($164K more)
Honolulu, HI 96816 91%2,580$114,609$1,168,800$730 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents
Kirkland, WA 98034 86%992$135,219$946,300$565 cheaper homes ($257K less)
Aiea, HI 96701 83%2,584$111,173$941,600$542 cheaper homes ($262K less) · older residents
Kaneohe, HI 96744 83%2,576$131,653$1,039,900$690 cheaper homes ($164K less) · more homeowners
Pearl City, HI 96782 82%2,585$108,669$874,200$603 cheaper homes ($329K less)
Seattle, WA 98155 81%995$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($387K less)
Miami, FL 33156 80%2,305$137,076$1,120,100$619 cheaper homes ($83K less) · more homeowners
Mililani, HI 96789 80%2,587$127,066$920,400$602 cheaper homes ($283K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98118 80%981$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($393K less) · 6 min longer commute
Edmonds, WA 98026 79%1,001$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($382K less) · more homeowners
Waltham, MA 02451 78%2,568$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($450K less) · smaller
Woburn, MA 01801 76%2,572$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($530K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85018 76%334$93,885$862,000$517 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($341K less)
Falls Church, VA 22042 75%2,269$138,255$715,800$426 cheaper homes ($488K less)
Renton, WA 98056 75%977$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($406K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98106 75%981$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($497K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98126 75%982$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($420K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98166 75%976$114,969$824,400$420 cheaper homes ($379K less) · smaller
Kenmore, WA 98028 72%995$139,764$920,800$474 cheaper homes ($283K less) · smaller · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98146 72%979$102,520$679,500$451 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($524K less) · smaller
Mukilteo, WA 98275 72%1,006$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($319K less) · smaller · newer homes
Annandale, VA 22003 71%2,268$138,794$732,400$338 cheaper homes ($471K less)
Winter Park, FL 32789 71%2,172$106,671$791,400$464 cheaper homes ($412K less) · smaller
Bothell, WA 98011 71%994$131,667$933,000$486 cheaper homes ($270K less) · smaller · newer 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.