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 San Pablo, CA 94806

San Pablo: median income $86,034, home value $607,800, $454/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hempstead, NY 11550 90%2,577$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($143K less) · older homes
Seattle, WA 98198 90%651$86,239$589,500$361 smaller
Kent, WA 98030 85%650$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98168 85%658$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Linden, NJ 07036 83%2,545$91,882$417,900$463 cheaper homes ($190K less) · older homes
Hollywood, FL 33024 83%2,576$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($198K less) · more homeowners
Carteret, NJ 07008 81%2,547$97,021$406,000$355 cheaper homes ($202K less) · smaller
Rahway, NJ 07065 81%2,544$91,461$386,400$395 cheaper homes ($221K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33157 81%2,585$81,589$547,300$412 cheaper homes ($61K less) · more homeowners
Everett, WA 98201 81%692$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Hyde Park, MA 02136 80%2,681$96,737$578,400$426 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Revere, MA 02151 80%2,685$86,969$597,400$421 more apartments and townhomes
Brockton, MA 02301 80%2,688$74,214$449,400$321 cheaper homes ($158K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Roselle, NJ 07203 79%2,545$92,762$379,900$350 cheaper homes ($228K less) · smaller · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 79%2,577$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($185K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Long Branch, NJ 07740 78%2,564$79,870$578,800$453 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Hyattsville, MD 20784 78%2,433$86,509$369,900$275 cheaper homes ($238K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33169 78%2,581$62,562$403,200$328 cheaper homes ($205K less)
Portland, OR 97266 78%519$72,577$445,700$302 cheaper homes ($162K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Parlin, NJ 08859 77%2,545$99,882$445,800$372 cheaper homes ($162K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33176 77%2,582$86,354$638,900$426 pricier homes ($31K more)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 77%2,577$75,361$469,700$375 cheaper homes ($138K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97236 77%519$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($172K less) · smaller
Federal Way, WA 98003 77%646$75,319$476,600$314 cheaper homes ($131K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Lynnwood, WA 98036 77%679$88,958$759,900$437 pricier homes ($152K more) · newer homes

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.