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 Jose, CA 95126

San Jose: median income $128,983, home value $1,214,300, $744/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bellevue, WA 98007 84%711$131,109$1,018,100$543 cheaper homes ($196K less)
Seattle, WA 98119 81%713$123,551$1,047,600$594 cheaper homes ($167K less) · older homes
Seattle, WA 98122 80%711$106,886$957,100$551 cheaper homes ($257K less)
Austin, TX 78704 77%1,466$106,897$916,100$507 cheaper homes ($298K less)
Miami, FL 33133 73%2,559$103,420$1,022,400$923 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($192K less) · more homeowners
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 73%2,552$124,812$884,800$542 cheaper homes ($330K less) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98102 72%712$114,925$963,200$617 cheaper homes ($251K less) · older homes
Alexandria, VA 22305 71%2,417$113,537$864,500$521 cheaper homes ($350K less) · smaller · older homes
Seattle, WA 98107 71%715$142,662$953,400$553 cheaper homes ($261K less)
Seattle, WA 98116 71%709$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($241K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98144 71%709$96,969$901,700$489 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($313K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98103 69%715$131,154$1,044,100$570 cheaper homes ($170K less) · older homes
Seattle, WA 98125 69%718$99,868$874,300$489 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($340K less) · more homeowners
Cambridge, MA 02141 68%2,679$126,522$868,100$842 cheaper homes ($346K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
New York, NY 10038 68%2,551$105,419$921,900$1,006 cheaper homes ($292K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
White Plains, NY 10606 68%2,558$112,270$682,300$492 cheaper homes ($532K less) · smaller · older homes
Washington, DC 20001 67%2,418$138,059$852,600$552 cheaper homes ($362K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Arlington, VA 22203 66%2,414$140,135$826,800$511 cheaper homes ($388K less)
Redmond, WA 98052 66%715$163,460$1,180,600$620 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Arlington, VA 22204 65%2,415$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($526K less) · older homes
Tampa, FL 33606 65%2,367$120,729$845,600$551 cheaper homes ($369K less) · smaller · younger residents
Honolulu, HI 96818 65%2,413$100,567$667,900$576 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($546K less) · less walkable
Bellevue, WA 98005 65%711$160,849$1,519,500$613 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($305K more) · smaller
Denver, CO 80205 64%930$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($565K less) · older homes
Palisades Park, NJ 07650 63%2,549$94,743$719,600$511 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($495K 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.