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 California City, CA 93505

California City: median income $59,827, home value $278,000, $180/sq ft, 43-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mabank, TX 75147 82%1,270$56,940$255,800$184 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Dundee, FL 33838 81%2,182$50,766$255,700$153 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Immokalee, FL 34142 81%2,245$62,333$317,800$203 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Hempstead, TX 77445 80%1,318$65,909$270,400$165 8 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Lehigh Acres, FL 33974 78%2,224$72,192$312,600$196 pricier homes ($35K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Hartsville, TN 37074 78%1,777$71,914$329,600$214 pricier homes ($52K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Selma, NC 27576 77%2,222$66,831$207,600$209 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Lyles, TN 37098 75%1,718$63,371$241,600$206 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Covington, GA 30014 74%1,940$72,254$293,400$164 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Greensboro, MD 21639 73%2,319$62,772$269,400$179 smaller · more homeowners · older homes
Angier, NC 27501 73%2,198$73,336$272,800$163 larger · more homeowners
Jonesboro, GA 30238 73%1,911$62,185$232,300$136 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Labelle, FL 33935 73%2,228$57,009$217,700$187 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Seagoville, TX 75159 72%1,237$72,897$234,300$156 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Lithonia, GA 30058 71%1,923$61,684$249,500$135 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Monroe, GA 30655 71%1,945$69,148$326,800$197 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · 12 min shorter commute
Lehigh Acres, FL 33976 71%2,218$72,679$300,200$198 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Kissimmee, FL 34758 71%2,185$66,339$309,100$173 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · more homeowners
Tappahannock, VA 22560 70%2,269$61,082$246,600$195 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · older residents
Rockmart, GA 30153 70%1,865$57,377$215,000$179 cheaper homes ($63K less) · older residents · 11 min shorter commute
Gibsonton, FL 33534 70%2,145$80,484$314,000$171 pricier homes ($36K more) · 11 min shorter commute
Haines City, FL 33844 70%2,180$63,650$256,300$168 larger · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Lafayette, TN 37083 70%1,784$61,843$239,500$188 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents · 11 min shorter commute
Mount Orab, OH 45154 70%1,883$74,087$234,200$179 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Leonard, TX 75452 70%1,244$69,479$295,900$188 smaller · older residents · more homeowners

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.