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 Norco, CA 92860

Norco: median income $127,780, home value $783,200, $457/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Enumclaw, WA 98022 87%951$120,406$608,500$352 cheaper homes ($175K less)
Snohomish, WA 98290 82%993$132,973$784,200$407 larger · newer homes
Centereach, NY 11720 81%2,461$134,898$518,600$391 cheaper homes ($265K less)
Medford, NY 11763 81%2,466$120,783$464,600$371 cheaper homes ($319K less)
Kent, WA 98042 81%959$127,552$658,500$339 cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger · newer homes
Holbrook, NY 11741 80%2,461$144,346$536,900$403 cheaper homes ($246K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Shirley, NY 11967 80%2,472$111,617$419,100$387 cheaper homes ($364K less)
Monroe, WA 98272 80%989$122,352$713,300$396 cheaper homes ($70K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Stony Point, NY 10980 79%2,412$126,284$513,700$337 cheaper homes ($270K less) · smaller
Farmingville, NY 11738 78%2,463$140,121$484,700$377 cheaper homes ($299K less) · younger residents
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 78%2,458$112,180$487,300$436 cheaper homes ($296K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Selden, NY 11784 78%2,463$104,369$460,300$365 cheaper homes ($323K less)
East Bridgewater, MA 02333 77%2,567$133,741$509,200$322 cheaper homes ($274K less) · smaller
Lakeville, MA 02347 77%2,567$133,984$565,900$358 cheaper homes ($217K less) · smaller
Rocky Point, NY 11778 77%2,468$126,349$456,500$412 cheaper homes ($327K less) · smaller
Islip Terrace, NY 11752 76%2,456$151,917$527,700$380 cheaper homes ($256K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 76%1,001$123,898$653,100$375 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger · newer homes
Stanwood, WA 98292 76%1,017$101,765$654,100$338 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($129K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Homestead, FL 33031 75%2,284$109,945$497,400$375 cheaper homes ($286K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98422 75%958$118,604$663,800$358 cheaper homes ($119K less) · newer homes
North Babylon, NY 11703 74%2,449$137,158$521,700$424 cheaper homes ($262K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Mastic Beach, NY 11951 74%2,473$110,862$355,400$389 cheaper homes ($428K less) · smaller
Auburn, WA 98001 74%957$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($196K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Buckley, WA 98321 74%944$127,411$571,200$296 cheaper homes ($212K less) · newer homes
East Freetown, MA 02717 73%2,566$130,625$520,800$336 cheaper homes ($262K less) · smaller

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.