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 Rio Vista, CA 94571

Rio Vista: median income $87,740, home value $490,200, $261/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waretown, NJ 08758 86%2,524$96,900$486,300$266 younger residents
Port Charlotte, FL 33981 86%2,405$84,098$386,800$218 cheaper homes ($103K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Moneta, VA 24121 85%2,281$81,006$391,800$299 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Divide, CO 80814 82%892$80,500$466,800$254 smaller · younger residents
Florissant, CO 80816 82%886$75,472$418,200$252 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · younger residents
Florence, MT 59833 79%701$94,097$551,600$333 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller · younger residents
Thayne, WY 83127 79%650$87,743$482,700$325 smaller · younger residents
Pahrump, NV 89061 79%347$77,991$351,900$198 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Camano Island, WA 98282 79%693$105,231$670,800$396 pricier homes ($181K more) · larger
Sherrills Ford, NC 28673 78%2,237$99,688$459,200$195 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · younger residents
Surprise, AZ 85374 78%610$81,201$395,400$232 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
West End, NC 27376 77%2,324$74,598$349,300$208 cheaper homes ($141K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Lyons, OR 97358 77%457$95,391$491,500$325 smaller
Lanexa, VA 23089 76%2,422$108,802$400,600$252 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · younger residents
Port Saint Lucie, FL 34987 76%2,489$90,201$460,900$219 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Westcliffe, CO 81252 76%883$69,527$401,900$258 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller · less walkable
Gold Canyon, AZ 85118 76%669$86,393$481,700$244 older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Coupeville, WA 98239 76%696$92,125$593,700$387 pricier homes ($104K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Street, MD 21154 75%2,413$97,658$455,400$257 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · younger residents
Spring Hill, FL 34607 75%2,333$66,422$398,900$282 cheaper homes ($91K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Frankford, DE 19945 74%2,493$87,638$443,100$235 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 11 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Alva, FL 33920 74%2,445$98,571$420,900$201 cheaper homes ($69K less) · younger residents
Rossville, TN 38066 74%1,786$107,660$377,900$200 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · younger residents
Canyon Lake, TX 78133 74%1,454$83,853$349,100$223 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger · younger residents
Leander, TX 78645 74%1,451$113,008$434,600$225 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($56K less) · younger residents

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.