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 95409

Santa Rosa: median income $107,867, home value $802,000, $445/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belmar, NJ 07719 89%2,566$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Anacortes, WA 98221 87%694$96,528$713,100$419 cheaper homes ($89K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Wakefield, RI 02879 85%2,675$112,231$564,700$445 cheaper homes ($237K less)
Westerly, RI 02891 85%2,662$97,110$470,000$369 cheaper homes ($332K less)
Key Largo, FL 33037 85%2,618$86,533$683,000$582 cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller
North Kingstown, RI 02852 84%2,677$118,643$504,900$332 cheaper homes ($297K less) · younger residents
Hampton, NH 03842 84%2,689$95,422$548,500$423 cheaper homes ($254K less) · smaller
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 84%2,542$117,959$539,000$431 cheaper homes ($263K less) · smaller
Kennebunk, ME 04043 83%2,696$107,804$487,700$378 cheaper homes ($314K less) · smaller
Fairfield, NJ 07004 83%2,544$115,980$688,500$393 cheaper homes ($114K less) · smaller
Mashpee, MA 02649 82%2,725$95,299$562,200$420 cheaper homes ($240K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Eatontown, NJ 07724 82%2,564$102,756$522,100$381 cheaper homes ($280K less) · younger residents
Danvers, MA 01923 81%2,688$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($158K less) · younger residents · older homes
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 81%2,084$115,799$616,000$491 cheaper homes ($186K less) · smaller
Boca Raton, FL 33486 81%2,592$105,540$664,100$530 cheaper homes ($138K less) · younger residents
Boca Raton, FL 33496 81%2,587$114,885$708,300$473 cheaper homes ($94K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Aiea, HI 96701 81%2,399$111,173$941,600$542 pricier homes ($140K more) · larger · younger residents
Olympia, WA 98506 81%597$91,596$490,900$298 cheaper homes ($311K less)
Burlington, MA 01803 80%2,676$146,436$740,600$441 higher income ($39K more) · cheaper homes ($61K less) · younger residents
North Easton, MA 02356 80%2,687$127,224$650,300$348 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller · younger residents
South Dartmouth, MA 02748 80%2,701$97,361$521,800$377 cheaper homes ($280K less) · smaller · older homes
Portsmouth, RI 02871 80%2,687$116,831$597,000$392 cheaper homes ($205K less) · younger residents
Doylestown, PA 18901 80%2,509$118,256$576,800$306 cheaper homes ($225K less) · younger residents
Tacoma, WA 98407 80%610$110,288$656,600$414 cheaper homes ($145K less) · younger residents · more walkable
Leavenworth, WA 98826 80%642$87,646$720,000$411 cheaper homes ($82K 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.