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 Aptos, CA 95003

Aptos: median income $148,412, home value $1,198,700, $764/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Edmonds, WA 98020 90%748$130,319$1,031,500$625 cheaper homes ($167K less)
Honolulu, HI 96825 87%2,398$153,210$1,088,700$759 cheaper homes ($110K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33156 84%2,554$137,076$1,120,100$619 cheaper homes ($79K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Kaneohe, HI 96744 82%2,399$131,653$1,039,900$690 cheaper homes ($159K less) · larger
Burlington, MA 01803 81%2,680$146,436$740,600$441 cheaper homes ($458K less)
Bellevue, WA 98008 81%735$184,583$1,206,200$671 higher income ($36K more) · younger residents
Woodinville, WA 98072 81%746$175,805$1,122,200$544 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($77K less) · younger residents
Kailua, HI 96734 80%2,396$132,782$1,367,600$904 pricier homes ($169K more) · larger · younger residents
Honolulu, HI 96821 79%2,401$174,938$1,563,300$931 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($365K more) · more homeowners
Edmonds, WA 98026 79%750$133,638$821,700$450 cheaper homes ($377K less) · larger · younger residents
Bedford, MA 01730 78%2,676$172,400$898,500$496 cheaper homes ($300K less) · smaller
Belmar, NJ 07719 78%2,561$119,828$700,900$488 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($498K less)
East Hampton, NY 11937 78%2,648$129,883$1,115,100$875 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Southampton, NY 11968 78%2,637$156,219$1,326,600$963 pricier homes ($128K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Honolulu, HI 96816 78%2,404$114,609$1,168,800$730 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Lake Oswego, OR 97034 77%584$149,236$1,047,500$444 cheaper homes ($151K less)
Seattle, WA 98155 77%745$131,540$816,400$460 cheaper homes ($382K less) · younger residents
Paramus, NJ 07652 75%2,552$144,349$813,900$504 cheaper homes ($385K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Carbondale, CO 81623 75%813$109,661$913,300$681 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($285K less) · smaller
Kenmore, WA 98028 75%745$139,764$920,800$474 cheaper homes ($278K less) · younger residents
Incline Village, NV 89451 74%189$166,509$1,461,200$763 pricier homes ($263K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Mililani, HI 96789 74%2,409$127,066$920,400$602 cheaper homes ($278K less) · larger · younger residents
Mukilteo, WA 98275 74%756$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($314K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 73%2,563$123,152$627,200$556 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($572K less)
Sayville, NY 11782 73%2,605$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($561K 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.