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 Simi Valley, CA 93063

Simi Valley: median income $125,098, home value $816,800, $480/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Edmonds, WA 98026 93%954$133,638$821,700$450 Very close on everything we compare
Kaneohe, HI 96744 91%2,532$131,653$1,039,900$690 pricier homes ($223K more)
Pearl City, HI 96782 91%2,541$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($57K more)
Mililani, HI 96789 90%2,542$127,066$920,400$602 pricier homes ($104K more)
Everett, WA 98203 88%960$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($208K less) · smaller
Aiea, HI 96701 87%2,540$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($125K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Renton, WA 98058 86%925$115,201$676,000$385 cheaper homes ($141K less) · younger residents
Everett, WA 98208 86%956$103,705$691,500$388 cheaper homes ($125K less) · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98146 85%931$102,520$679,500$451 cheaper homes ($137K less) · smaller · older homes
Seattle, WA 98155 84%948$131,540$816,400$460 smaller
Amityville, NY 11701 83%2,492$117,033$499,500$442 cheaper homes ($317K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98031 83%922$105,965$611,600$349 cheaper homes ($205K less) · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98166 83%928$114,969$824,400$420 smaller · older homes
West Babylon, NY 11704 82%2,496$129,195$527,500$459 cheaper homes ($289K less) · older homes
Springfield, VA 22150 82%2,304$123,114$635,900$335 cheaper homes ($181K less) · smaller
Waipahu, HI 96797 82%2,544$114,654$826,300$635 more apartments and townhomes
Lynnwood, WA 98037 82%954$107,281$767,300$393 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · younger residents
Billerica, MA 01821 81%2,595$149,042$615,100$382 cheaper homes ($202K less) · smaller · less walkable
Saugus, MA 01906 81%2,607$101,539$603,400$393 cheaper homes ($213K less) · smaller · older homes
Danvers, MA 01923 81%2,610$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($173K less) · smaller · older homes
Belmar, NJ 07719 81%2,461$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($116K less) · smaller
Annandale, VA 22003 81%2,303$138,794$732,400$338 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Renton, WA 98059 81%929$138,654$872,000$451 pricier homes ($55K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Methuen, MA 01844 80%2,598$113,212$499,800$341 cheaper homes ($317K less)
Tewksbury, MA 01876 80%2,596$130,204$577,000$382 cheaper homes ($240K less) · smaller · less walkable

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.