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.

Reset

Towns most like Lancaster, CA 93535

Lancaster: median income $70,360, home value $381,100, $276/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Monroe, GA 30655 84%1,944$69,148$326,800$197 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Dickson, TN 37055 84%1,712$69,821$294,600$237 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller · older residents
Shelbyville, TN 37160 84%1,769$64,800$277,700$206 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Columbia, TN 38401 83%1,736$68,475$339,400$204 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Suffolk, VA 23434 82%2,302$79,877$313,500$197 cheaper homes ($68K less) · older residents
Lawrenceville, GA 30044 82%1,921$77,321$329,600$179 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Springfield, TN 37172 82%1,738$72,168$312,600$219 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · older residents
Las Vegas, NV 89156 82%190$69,767$330,300$219 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · more walkable
La Vergne, TN 37086 81%1,759$78,857$303,200$216 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller · newer homes
Lebanon, OR 97355 81%728$68,595$371,700$286 smaller · older residents
Tacoma, WA 98445 81%889$92,520$444,800$282 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller · older residents
Orlando, FL 32818 80%2,170$63,061$304,600$202 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more walkable
Mesquite, TX 75149 80%1,227$70,774$227,200$168 cheaper homes ($154K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76140 80%1,192$75,955$234,700$169 cheaper homes ($146K less) · smaller
Peoria, AZ 85345 80%332$67,380$319,800$242 cheaper homes ($61K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more walkable
Shelton, WA 98584 80%905$78,610$393,000$299 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Monroe, NC 28110 79%2,104$83,480$342,600$205 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents · newer homes
Charlotte, NC 28215 79%2,090$71,162$315,000$202 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Kissimmee, FL 34743 78%2,184$62,992$321,300$230 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · older residents
Glendale, AZ 85303 78%334$80,650$333,600$240 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · more walkable
El Mirage, AZ 85335 78%327$78,050$321,900$212 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · newer homes
Wasilla, AK 99654 78%2,312$97,544$363,300$254 higher income ($27K more) · smaller · newer homes
Middletown, NY 10940 77%2,381$87,080$336,500$257 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Georgetown, DE 19947 77%2,349$71,229$322,300$196 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · older residents
Richmond, VA 23234 77%2,247$66,619$266,200$218 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter 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.