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 Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Santa Rosa: median income $98,191, home value $693,000, $446/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Honolulu, HI 96819 86%2,393$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($262K more) · older homes
Silverdale, WA 98383 86%634$111,139$596,400$306 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Puyallup, WA 98372 85%603$98,152$589,900$325 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Beaverton, OR 97003 83%486$99,072$478,300$313 cheaper homes ($215K less) · smaller
Vancouver, WA 98684 83%494$90,620$459,200$303 cheaper homes ($234K less)
Sparks, NV 89434 82%179$91,507$457,000$302 cheaper homes ($236K less) · smaller
Oak Harbor, WA 98277 82%679$83,253$499,600$317 cheaper homes ($193K less) · younger residents
Reno, NV 89523 81%169$99,061$607,300$352 cheaper homes ($86K less) · newer homes
Bellingham, WA 98226 81%713$79,375$607,600$376 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Peabody, MA 01960 80%2,692$96,501$596,700$406 cheaper homes ($96K less) · older residents · older homes
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 80%830$109,129$798,900$438 pricier homes ($106K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Flagstaff, AZ 86004 80%657$81,172$509,900$381 cheaper homes ($183K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98036 80%645$88,958$759,900$437 pricier homes ($67K more) · 9 min longer commute
Lynnwood, WA 98037 80%647$107,281$767,300$393 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Everett, WA 98208 80%651$103,705$691,500$388 5 min longer commute · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Lacey, WA 98503 80%590$89,002$438,100$293 cheaper homes ($255K less)
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 79%2,401$89,185$452,700$340 cheaper homes ($240K less) · smaller
Tualatin, OR 97062 79%476$105,407$640,300$293 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Happy Valley, OR 97086 79%481$102,359$697,400$285 newer homes
Renton, WA 98055 79%621$97,224$602,800$326 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98198 79%616$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($104K less) · 9 min longer commute
Puyallup, WA 98373 79%598$103,796$565,700$280 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Tacoma, WA 98466 79%604$101,778$602,400$351 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller · more walkable
Vancouver, WA 98665 79%498$88,559$476,200$274 cheaper homes ($217K less) · smaller · more walkable
Kailua Kona, HI 96740 78%2,371$95,542$760,600$627 pricier homes ($68K more) · more homeowners · less walkable

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.