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 Vallejo, CA 94591

Vallejo: median income $104,550, home value $630,500, $352/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Federal Way, WA 98023 92%637$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Kent, WA 98031 91%642$105,965$611,600$349 Very close on everything we compare
Auburn, WA 98001 90%636$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Marysville, WA 98270 90%689$108,147$579,900$362 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Port Orchard, WA 98366 89%653$92,011$475,800$313 cheaper homes ($155K less) · smaller
Puyallup, WA 98371 87%629$97,242$556,800$323 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33157 86%2,580$81,589$547,300$412 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Renton, WA 98058 86%646$115,201$676,000$385 pricier homes ($46K more)
Oregon City, OR 97045 84%501$103,573$587,700$313 cheaper homes ($43K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Gresham, OR 97080 84%510$96,305$502,000$269 cheaper homes ($129K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Randolph, MA 02368 83%2,677$109,665$496,800$346 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Old Bridge, NJ 08857 83%2,536$109,312$486,600$372 cheaper homes ($144K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Everett, WA 98203 83%680$107,376$608,600$359 smaller · 8 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Everett, WA 98208 83%677$103,705$691,500$388 pricier homes ($61K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 82%2,591$112,180$487,300$436 cheaper homes ($143K less) · smaller · less walkable
Miami, FL 33177 82%2,576$82,682$444,200$383 cheaper homes ($186K less)
Miami, FL 33196 82%2,572$94,961$489,600$328 cheaper homes ($141K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Kent, WA 98042 82%640$127,552$658,500$339 pricier homes ($28K more) · more homeowners · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98178 82%649$99,505$660,400$367 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · older homes
Tacoma, WA 98422 82%635$118,604$663,800$358 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Aurora, CO 80013 81%942$101,191$474,000$225 cheaper homes ($157K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 81%685$123,898$653,100$375 younger residents · newer homes
Puyallup, WA 98374 81%625$112,662$535,300$284 cheaper homes ($95K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Patchogue, NY 11772 80%2,599$105,245$474,800$400 cheaper homes ($156K less) · less walkable · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 80%2,568$93,603$495,000$298 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller · 7 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.