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 Sacramento, CA 95822

Sacramento: median income $86,801, home value $466,000, $345/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80221 93%887$86,810$472,900$272 Very close on everything we compare
Tacoma, WA 98408 91%603$80,899$410,500$320 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80219 90%885$68,415$454,600$344 Very close on everything we compare
Portland, OR 97220 89%489$70,137$450,200$325 smaller
Seattle, WA 98168 89%622$88,083$548,000$369 pricier homes ($82K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Vancouver, WA 98663 89%497$86,018$450,300$299 smaller
Brockton, MA 02302 88%2,634$92,274$424,800$366 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Houston, TX 77009 88%1,604$83,148$420,200$266 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Hollywood, FL 33023 87%2,538$74,709$380,000$342 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Saint Petersburg, FL 33713 87%2,345$74,707$323,000$342 cheaper homes ($143K less)
Cranston, RI 02920 86%2,615$80,717$370,000$280 cheaper homes ($96K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Keyport, NJ 07735 86%2,496$97,536$406,000$382 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · older residents
South River, NJ 08882 86%2,486$96,147$405,200$331 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98178 86%622$99,505$660,400$367 pricier homes ($194K more) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 85%2,536$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 85%2,533$93,603$495,000$298 pricier homes ($29K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Tampa, FL 33603 85%2,350$74,081$391,000$322 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller
Arvada, CO 80003 85%883$91,464$534,700$265 pricier homes ($69K more) · newer homes
Ogden, UT 84403 85%539$88,236$422,900$214 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Portland, OR 97230 85%489$75,572$450,700$255 newer homes
Portland, OR 97267 85%480$87,418$533,400$295 pricier homes ($67K more) · older residents · newer homes
Cranston, RI 02910 84%2,616$90,698$338,700$271 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller · older homes
Hollywood, FL 33024 84%2,535$80,061$409,400$349 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33155 84%2,542$81,158$581,700$490 pricier homes ($116K more) · older residents
Warwick, RI 02886 83%2,617$92,047$366,400$285 cheaper homes ($100K less) · more apartments and townhomes

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.