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 Milpitas, CA 95035

Milpitas: median income $178,654, home value $1,253,200, $777/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kirkland, WA 98033 83%708$182,500$1,491,700$742 pricier homes ($239K more) · smaller
Kirkland, WA 98034 82%711$135,219$946,300$565 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($307K less) · smaller
Bellevue, WA 98005 79%703$160,849$1,519,500$613 pricier homes ($266K more) · smaller
Redmond, WA 98052 79%707$163,460$1,180,600$620 cheaper homes ($73K less) · more renters
Bothell, WA 98011 75%713$131,667$933,000$486 lower income ($47K less) · cheaper homes ($320K less) · smaller
Kailua, HI 96734 72%2,405$132,782$1,367,600$904 lower income ($46K less) · pricier homes ($114K more) · smaller
Issaquah, WA 98029 72%699$170,759$1,063,200$525 cheaper homes ($190K less) · smaller · less walkable
Miami, FL 33156 70%2,557$137,076$1,120,100$619 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22043 69%2,406$145,881$881,600$456 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($372K less) · smaller
Issaquah, WA 98027 69%695$153,301$996,600$507 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($257K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98116 68%701$126,151$973,400$612 lower income ($53K less) · cheaper homes ($280K less) · smaller
Morristown, NJ 07960 66%2,521$160,334$735,600$476 cheaper homes ($518K less) · smaller · less walkable
Bothell, WA 98012 66%719$146,144$876,600$437 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($377K less) · 6 min longer commute
Falls Church, VA 22046 64%2,407$168,882$1,014,700$476 cheaper homes ($239K less) · smaller · older homes
Vienna, VA 22180 64%2,403$177,111$941,400$423 cheaper homes ($312K less) · smaller
Houston, TX 77024 64%1,601$136,149$1,127,500$414 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller
Kenmore, WA 98028 64%713$139,764$920,800$474 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($332K less) · smaller
Woodinville, WA 98072 64%714$175,805$1,122,200$544 cheaper homes ($131K less) · smaller · older residents
Fairfax, VA 22030 63%2,400$139,831$740,400$347 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($513K less)
Herndon, VA 20171 62%2,395$171,372$797,200$331 cheaper homes ($456K less) · smaller
Mililani, HI 96789 62%2,417$127,066$920,400$602 lower income ($52K less) · cheaper homes ($333K less) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98115 62%708$156,142$1,094,600$578 cheaper homes ($159K less) · older homes
Florham Park, NJ 07932 61%2,526$156,458$791,100$530 cheaper homes ($462K less) · smaller · older residents
Miami, FL 33133 61%2,559$103,420$1,022,400$923 lower income ($75K less) · cheaper homes ($231K less) · smaller
Bellevue, WA 98008 61%703$184,583$1,206,200$671 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · older 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.