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 Morro Bay, CA 93442

Morro Bay: median income $95,623, home value $918,700, $629/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Greenport, NY 11944 78%2,626$85,298$885,800$535 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · less walkable
Saint Petersburg, FL 33704 76%2,294$107,889$753,600$451 cheaper homes ($165K less) · younger residents · older homes
Carson City, NV 89703 74%268$85,230$626,500$330 cheaper homes ($292K less) · less walkable
Honolulu, HI 96816 73%2,431$114,609$1,168,800$730 pricier homes ($250K more) · larger · younger residents
Edmonds, WA 98020 73%862$130,319$1,031,500$625 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($113K more) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98407 73%827$110,288$656,600$414 cheaper homes ($262K less) · larger · younger residents
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 72%2,714$115,417$937,100$772 younger residents · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Narragansett, RI 02882 72%2,670$95,721$749,700$555 cheaper homes ($169K less) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Belmar, NJ 07719 72%2,546$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger · younger residents
Boise, ID 83712 72%620$105,574$859,000$416 cheaper homes ($60K less) · younger residents
Fairfield, NJ 07004 71%2,528$115,980$688,500$393 cheaper homes ($230K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Cape May, NJ 08204 71%2,514$82,466$461,400$536 cheaper homes ($457K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Key Largo, FL 33037 71%2,495$86,533$683,000$582 cheaper homes ($236K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Santa Fe, NM 87501 71%835$79,603$673,100$480 cheaper homes ($246K less) · less walkable
Falmouth, MA 02540 70%2,712$77,295$844,500$485 cheaper homes ($74K less) · older residents · less walkable
Sarasota, FL 34239 70%2,314$80,923$475,700$371 cheaper homes ($443K less)
Spring Lake, NJ 07762 69%2,548$116,295$927,700$705 9 min longer commute
Winter Park, FL 32789 69%2,345$106,671$791,400$464 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger · younger residents
Boca Raton, FL 33486 69%2,477$105,540$664,100$530 cheaper homes ($255K less) · larger · younger residents
Hailey, ID 83333 69%662$99,704$744,200$566 cheaper homes ($175K less) · younger residents · less walkable
South Yarmouth, MA 02664 68%2,732$82,125$551,400$474 cheaper homes ($367K less) · less walkable
Marathon, FL 33050 68%2,473$94,898$747,300$686 cheaper homes ($171K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Aiea, HI 96701 68%2,435$111,173$941,600$542 larger · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Rockport, MA 01966 67%2,702$96,250$746,100$545 cheaper homes ($173K less) · smaller · older residents
Summerland Key, FL 33042 66%2,449$103,041$856,500$854 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · 9 min longer commute

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.