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 Lincoln, CA 95648

Lincoln: median income $112,333, home value $657,800, $346/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Phoenix, AZ 85086 93%619$121,676$598,900$267 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Las Vegas, NV 89131 93%377$116,468$531,900$248 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Battle Ground, WA 98604 89%481$112,448$589,800$299 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 86%619$122,323$547,500$230 cheaper homes ($110K less) · younger residents
Goodyear, AZ 85395 86%621$105,935$564,800$237 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Henderson, NV 89044 86%394$108,155$570,700$263 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Kent, WA 98042 86%587$127,552$658,500$339 older homes
Poulsbo, WA 98370 86%615$116,756$628,600$314 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older homes
Sparks, NV 89436 85%99$114,100$588,500$303 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Ridgefield, WA 98642 85%481$120,822$652,400$301 smaller
Canton, GA 30115 84%2,058$113,089$485,500$203 cheaper homes ($172K less)
Hollywood, FL 33029 84%2,520$146,237$619,900$331 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($38K less)
Miami, FL 33185 84%2,528$114,206$562,700$343 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Longmont, CO 80504 84%874$113,643$591,700$230 cheaper homes ($66K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Berthoud, CO 80513 84%866$126,726$600,600$249 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Meridian, ID 83646 84%414$102,861$542,500$269 cheaper homes ($115K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Star, ID 83669 84%415$100,091$586,400$276 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
Queen Creek, AZ 85142 84%665$129,367$593,500$262 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · younger residents
Mesa, AZ 85207 84%657$108,699$505,000$282 cheaper homes ($153K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Glendale, AZ 85310 84%621$122,137$552,900$276 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 84%632$123,898$653,100$375 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Tacoma, WA 98422 84%583$118,604$663,800$358 smaller · older homes
Mesa, AZ 85212 83%661$125,902$584,000$259 cheaper homes ($74K less) · younger residents
Olympia, WA 98513 83%564$113,053$470,700$296 cheaper homes ($187K less) · smaller · younger residents
Camas, WA 98607 83%467$128,318$702,100$328 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · 5 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.