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 Lathrop, CA 95330

Lathrop: median income $125,421, home value $643,400, $285/sq ft, 45-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Orting, WA 98360 81%642$125,842$505,200$286 cheaper homes ($138K less) · smaller · less walkable
Loxahatchee, FL 33470 78%2,493$122,163$584,500$301 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older residents · less walkable
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 78%706$123,898$653,100$375 10 min shorter commute
Bonney Lake, WA 98391 78%646$135,037$626,800$317 larger · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Puyallup, WA 98375 77%644$117,074$522,100$263 cheaper homes ($121K less) · 10 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33187 76%2,518$115,206$574,300$352 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · older residents
San Tan Valley, AZ 85140 75%635$101,477$445,000$231 cheaper homes ($198K less) · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Graham, WA 98338 75%638$114,819$509,600$302 cheaper homes ($134K less) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Spanaway, WA 98387 75%642$106,872$461,000$282 cheaper homes ($182K less) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Monroe, WA 98272 74%694$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($70K more) · 10 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Mechanicsville, MD 20659 73%2,398$121,654$416,900$230 cheaper homes ($227K less) · less walkable · older homes
Spotsylvania, VA 22553 73%2,352$135,856$480,200$210 cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller · less walkable
Miami, FL 33185 73%2,517$114,206$562,700$343 cheaper homes ($81K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Riverview, FL 33579 73%2,350$116,134$415,500$180 cheaper homes ($228K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Stafford, VA 22556 71%2,356$137,287$486,100$226 cheaper homes ($157K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Brighton, CO 80603 71%899$118,297$492,000$220 cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
King George, VA 22485 70%2,379$117,560$428,300$197 cheaper homes ($215K less) · 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Queen Creek, AZ 85142 70%627$129,367$593,500$262 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · 13 min shorter commute
Surprise, AZ 85388 70%574$112,164$459,900$221 cheaper homes ($184K less) · 13 min shorter commute
Kent, WA 98042 70%661$127,552$658,500$339 older residents · 11 min shorter commute · older homes
Prince Frederick, MD 20678 69%2,403$125,732$455,100$200 cheaper homes ($188K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Lithia, FL 33547 69%2,356$123,258$524,300$221 cheaper homes ($119K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Elizabeth, CO 80107 69%906$135,262$684,800$221 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · older residents
Puyallup, WA 98374 69%646$112,662$535,300$284 cheaper homes ($108K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more renters
Dallas, GA 30132 68%2,046$109,914$363,300$168 cheaper homes ($280K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute

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.