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 92707

Santa Ana: median income $105,168, home value $681,300, $623/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Honolulu, HI 96819 83%2,577$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($273K more) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98168 79%980$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller
Hempstead, NY 11550 73%2,456$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($216K less) · 10 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98108 69%983$95,780$720,400$423 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Linden, NJ 07036 68%2,423$91,882$417,900$463 cheaper homes ($263K less) · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98198 68%973$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($92K less) · 8 min longer commute · newer homes
Dover, NJ 07801 66%2,407$84,517$392,400$366 cheaper homes ($289K less) · smaller · older residents
Wahiawa, HI 96786 66%2,582$85,554$807,900$511 pricier homes ($127K more) · younger residents · more renters
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 66%1,000$107,687$667,100$438 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98146 66%981$102,520$679,500$451 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Woburn, MA 01801 65%2,577$111,185$673,500$456 older residents
Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 65%2,429$101,740$483,700$369 cheaper homes ($198K less) · smaller · older residents
Waipahu, HI 96797 65%2,583$114,654$826,300$635 pricier homes ($145K more) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Everett, WA 98201 65%1,012$74,554$499,800$384 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($182K less) · smaller
Carteret, NJ 07008 63%2,424$97,021$406,000$355 cheaper homes ($275K less) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 63%2,305$75,361$469,700$375 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($212K less) · smaller
Pearl City, HI 96782 63%2,580$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($193K more) · smaller · older residents
Kent, WA 98030 63%972$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Everett, WA 98203 63%1,009$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller · older residents
Bound Brook, NJ 08805 62%2,408$93,341$417,800$331 cheaper homes ($264K less) · smaller
Key West, FL 33040 62%2,255$86,586$819,400$824 pricier homes ($138K more) · smaller · older residents
Peabody, MA 01960 61%2,587$96,501$596,700$406 cheaper homes ($85K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Norwalk, CT 06854 61%2,465$86,679$460,500$436 cheaper homes ($221K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Paterson, NJ 07502 61%2,425$76,790$375,300$381 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($306K less) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 61%2,306$88,309$498,100$404 cheaper homes ($183K less) · smaller · older 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.