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 Fairfield, CA 94533

Fairfield: median income $87,384, home value $542,200, $328/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hollywood, FL 33024 90%2,562$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($133K less)
Portland, OR 97236 90%500$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($106K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80229 89%923$84,203$417,500$264 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Denver, CO 80233 89%922$88,880$465,400$232 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98030 88%630$91,761$582,400$319 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98198 88%631$86,239$589,500$361 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98168 86%637$88,083$548,000$369 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Bremerton, WA 98312 86%644$90,449$473,100$290 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Salem, OR 97303 85%467$84,871$433,900$263 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Federal Way, WA 98023 85%625$104,893$589,900$320 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Port Orchard, WA 98366 85%641$92,011$475,800$313 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 84%2,563$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Denver, CO 80239 84%928$98,148$429,600$238 cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98404 84%618$82,191$413,900$318 cheaper homes ($128K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Lakewood, WA 98498 84%615$91,664$506,300$324 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Hollywood, FL 33023 83%2,565$74,709$380,000$342 cheaper homes ($162K less) · older homes
Miami, FL 33157 83%2,571$81,589$547,300$412 Very close on everything we compare
Forest Grove, OR 97116 83%510$92,613$495,800$262 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98031 83%630$105,965$611,600$349 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98445 83%613$92,520$444,800$282 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Brockton, MA 02302 82%2,667$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Miami Gardens, FL 33056 82%2,565$68,583$372,200$370 cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller
Aurora, CO 80011 82%929$74,022$409,100$235 cheaper homes ($133K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Aurora, CO 80017 82%930$80,524$427,100$222 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Phoenix, AZ 85023 82%640$77,369$391,200$269 cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller

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.