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 Paula, CA 93060

Santa Paula: median income $80,979, home value $635,100, $416/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98168 88%923$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more walkable
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 83%986$76,717$492,300$331 cheaper homes ($143K less) · newer homes
Portland, OR 97236 81%790$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($199K less)
Seattle, WA 98198 81%916$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more walkable
Burlington, WA 98233 81%990$87,614$502,100$348 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller · newer homes
Bremerton, WA 98312 81%933$90,449$473,100$290 cheaper homes ($162K less)
Lakewood, WA 98498 80%903$91,664$506,300$324 cheaper homes ($129K less) · older residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 79%2,376$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($212K less) · larger · more walkable
Dover, NJ 07801 78%2,451$84,517$392,400$366 cheaper homes ($243K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Beaverton, OR 97078 78%791$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($156K less) · newer homes
Brockton, MA 02302 77%2,628$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($210K less) · more homeowners · more walkable
Puyallup, WA 98372 77%903$98,152$589,900$325 cheaper homes ($45K less) · newer homes
Longview, WA 98632 77%840$66,305$379,200$259 cheaper homes ($256K less)
Taunton, MA 02780 76%2,624$74,471$413,900$326 cheaper homes ($221K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Naples, FL 34116 76%2,286$73,958$430,200$311 cheaper homes ($205K less) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80219 76%856$68,415$454,600$344 cheaper homes ($181K less) · larger · more walkable
Carson City, NV 89701 76%333$73,184$444,500$299 cheaper homes ($191K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Honolulu, HI 96819 76%2,517$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($320K more)
Molalla, OR 97038 76%767$89,564$483,500$314 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller · newer homes
Bremerton, WA 98310 76%934$75,878$440,500$286 cheaper homes ($195K less) · smaller · more walkable
Hollywood, FL 33024 75%2,374$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($226K less) · larger · more walkable
Sparks, NV 89434 75%361$91,507$457,000$302 cheaper homes ($178K less) · newer homes
Salem, OR 97317 75%757$84,393$402,800$299 cheaper homes ($232K less) · more homeowners
Springfield, OR 97478 75%701$80,086$387,700$305 cheaper homes ($247K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Oak Harbor, WA 98277 75%982$83,253$499,600$317 cheaper homes ($136K less) · 7 min shorter commute · 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.