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 Oxnard, CA 93036

Oxnard: median income $101,445, home value $678,000, $455/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kent, WA 98030 87%922$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($96K less) · 7 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98198 83%924$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($89K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Honolulu, HI 96819 81%2,509$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($277K more) · older homes
Beaverton, OR 97003 81%804$99,072$478,300$313 cheaper homes ($200K less) · smaller
Clackamas, OR 97015 80%792$87,333$527,800$297 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Lynnwood, WA 98037 80%954$107,281$767,300$393 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller
Vancouver, WA 98684 80%807$90,620$459,200$303 cheaper homes ($219K less)
Renton, WA 98055 79%927$97,224$602,800$326 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller
Vancouver, WA 98665 79%812$88,559$476,200$274 cheaper homes ($202K less) · smaller
Renton, WA 98056 78%930$113,688$797,300$467 pricier homes ($119K more) · 5 min longer commute
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 77%951$107,687$667,100$438 smaller · older homes
Lynnwood, WA 98087 77%955$106,693$676,400$396 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98168 77%930$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($130K less) · older homes
Milton, WA 98354 77%914$96,866$536,800$358 cheaper homes ($141K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Chandler, AZ 85224 76%425$94,516$438,700$298 cheaper homes ($239K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98036 76%951$88,958$759,900$437 pricier homes ($82K more) · 7 min longer commute
Everett, WA 98208 76%957$103,705$691,500$388 more homeowners · more single-family homes · less walkable
Tacoma, WA 98466 76%915$101,778$602,400$351 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · older homes
Waipahu, HI 96797 75%2,515$114,654$826,300$635 pricier homes ($148K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Beaverton, OR 97078 75%798$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($199K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Hillsboro, OR 97124 75%806$110,067$556,300$313 cheaper homes ($122K less)
Lacey, WA 98503 75%903$89,002$438,100$293 cheaper homes ($240K less) · older residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 74%2,383$88,309$498,100$404 cheaper homes ($180K less) · smaller · older homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84123 74%596$81,271$464,500$242 cheaper homes ($214K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85032 74%414$78,643$416,800$309 cheaper homes ($261K less)

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.