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 Friant, CA 93626

Friant: median income $173,788, home value $631,600, $238/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Hill, NC 27562 88%2,252$172,955$614,300$238 larger
Elko New Market, MN 55054 87%1,465$157,096$433,100$196 cheaper homes ($199K less)
Sunnyvale, TX 75182 86%1,339$170,348$565,300$208 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · older residents
Oakland, MI 48363 85%1,959$179,375$618,200$226 larger · older homes
Hanover, MN 55341 85%1,458$157,071$450,300$195 cheaper homes ($181K less)
Brookline, NH 03033 84%2,541$171,046$544,400$245 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · older homes
Mead, CO 80542 83%821$133,500$614,600$192 lower income ($40K less) · larger
Carver, MN 55315 82%1,450$140,893$453,000$208 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($179K less) · larger
Hamel, MN 55340 82%1,461$178,553$639,100$234 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Colorado Springs, CO 80927 82%827$163,803$587,100$210 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · younger residents
Dayton, MN 55327 81%1,468$140,366$492,400$214 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger
Chesterfield, NJ 08515 80%2,416$208,836$560,000$253 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Round Hill, VA 20141 80%2,263$210,563$736,700$287 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($105K more) · larger
Glenn Dale, MD 20769 80%2,316$139,773$580,500$214 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Marriottsville, MD 21104 80%2,306$191,804$680,200$243 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · older homes
Ijamsville, MD 21754 80%2,286$182,188$647,300$236 larger · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Moseley, VA 23120 80%2,287$158,667$569,300$224 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Victoria, MN 55386 80%1,454$192,458$565,900$206 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Bucyrus, KS 66013 80%1,364$164,320$724,500$234 pricier homes ($93K more) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Gunter, TX 75058 80%1,315$125,694$532,600$184 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($99K less) · more renters
Manchaca, TX 78652 80%1,341$133,368$528,100$204 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger
Lincoln University, PA 19352 79%2,355$165,365$473,200$225 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger · older homes
Fisherville, KY 40023 79%1,866$144,635$497,800$184 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger
Loretto, MN 55357 79%1,457$152,500$530,200$245 cheaper homes ($101K less) · older residents · older homes
Black Diamond, WA 98010 79%719$142,048$775,400$354 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($144K more) · larger

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.