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.

Reset

Towns most like San Jose, CA 95132

San Jose: median income $178,611, home value $1,349,100, $942/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kailua, HI 96734 79%2,406$132,782$1,367,600$904 lower income ($46K less)
Bellevue, WA 98008 79%705$184,583$1,206,200$671 cheaper homes ($143K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Kaneohe, HI 96744 78%2,409$131,653$1,039,900$690 lower income ($47K less) · cheaper homes ($309K less)
Honolulu, HI 96821 75%2,411$174,938$1,563,300$931 pricier homes ($214K more) · smaller · older residents
Honolulu, HI 96825 75%2,408$153,210$1,088,700$759 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($260K less) · older residents
Bellevue, WA 98006 73%702$198,150$1,388,500$592 pricier homes ($39K more)
Miami, FL 33156 72%2,555$137,076$1,120,100$619 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($229K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Woodinville, WA 98072 70%716$175,805$1,122,200$544 cheaper homes ($227K less) · smaller · newer homes
Mililani, HI 96789 68%2,419$127,066$920,400$602 lower income ($52K less) · cheaper homes ($429K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Port Washington, NY 11050 67%2,560$154,225$1,035,400$718 cheaper homes ($314K less) · 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98177 67%715$169,918$1,048,900$544 cheaper homes ($300K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Paramus, NJ 07652 66%2,540$144,349$813,900$504 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($535K less) · smaller
Southampton, NY 11968 66%2,625$156,219$1,326,600$963 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Edmonds, WA 98020 66%719$130,319$1,031,500$625 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($318K less) · smaller
Edmonds, WA 98026 66%721$133,638$821,700$450 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($527K less)
Summit, NJ 07901 65%2,527$179,701$987,900$715 cheaper homes ($361K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Manasquan, NJ 08736 65%2,551$174,097$880,900$691 cheaper homes ($468K less) · smaller · older residents
Seattle, WA 98155 65%716$131,540$816,400$460 lower income ($47K less) · cheaper homes ($533K less)
Honolulu, HI 96816 64%2,414$114,609$1,168,800$730 lower income ($64K less) · cheaper homes ($180K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Cresskill, NJ 07626 63%2,545$170,376$811,400$547 cheaper homes ($538K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Great Neck, NY 11024 63%2,558$175,300$1,667,400$746 pricier homes ($318K more) · smaller · younger residents
East Hampton, NY 11937 63%2,636$129,883$1,115,100$875 lower income ($49K less) · cheaper homes ($234K less) · smaller
North Bend, WA 98045 63%696$175,765$938,500$494 cheaper homes ($411K less) · smaller · less walkable
Renton, WA 98059 63%698$138,654$872,000$451 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($477K less) · newer homes
Burlington, MA 01803 62%2,666$146,436$740,600$441 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($609K 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.