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 Linden, CA 95236

Linden: median income $104,703, home value $650,500, $378/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sumas, WA 98295 85%758$98,965$456,200$296 cheaper homes ($194K less)
Coalville, UT 84017 83%554$95,900$620,500$364 cheaper homes ($30K less) · more homeowners
Hanapepe, HI 96716 82%2,538$105,000$716,500$546 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Everson, WA 98247 81%754$88,724$564,400$356 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · more homeowners
Bellport, NY 11713 78%2,543$108,173$482,800$421 cheaper homes ($168K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Amity, OR 97101 78%502$99,837$581,500$258 cheaper homes ($69K less) · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Kekaha, HI 96752 77%2,542$90,174$682,900$727 pricier homes ($32K more)
Mount Hood Parkdale, OR 97041 76%516$82,679$705,600$416 pricier homes ($55K more) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Carlton, OR 97111 76%513$108,453$520,400$314 cheaper homes ($130K less) · more homeowners · more walkable
East Freetown, MA 02717 75%2,630$130,625$520,800$336 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($130K less) · 5 min longer commute
Hayden, CO 81639 75%756$110,404$443,600$354 cheaper homes ($207K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Holualoa, HI 96725 75%2,443$93,346$880,000$586 pricier homes ($230K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Kealakekua, HI 96750 75%2,447$92,576$697,600$283 pricier homes ($47K more) · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Hubbard, OR 97032 75%502$101,250$456,600$291 cheaper homes ($194K less) · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Chappell Hill, TX 77426 74%1,514$80,446$592,300$246 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · newer homes
Silverton, OR 97381 74%489$89,383$539,600$313 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Tacoma, WA 98443 74%637$105,035$519,100$320 cheaper homes ($131K less) · more homeowners
Virginia Beach, VA 23457 73%2,451$116,250$571,000$312 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more homeowners
Kingston Springs, TN 37082 73%1,865$98,361$418,800$256 cheaper homes ($232K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Kapaau, HI 96755 73%2,411$96,813$722,400$648 pricier homes ($72K more) · older residents · more homeowners
New Egypt, NJ 08533 72%2,473$113,583$492,500$279 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger · more homeowners
Marshall, VA 20115 72%2,314$142,981$657,300$273 higher income ($38K more) · larger · more homeowners
Bradford, RI 02808 71%2,595$106,681$388,300$328 cheaper homes ($262K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Jefferson, OR 97352 71%475$107,000$441,700$313 cheaper homes ($209K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Cashmere, WA 98815 71%656$88,108$554,300$310 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger · more homeowners

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.