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 95832

Sacramento: median income $82,318, home value $399,600, $288/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tacoma, WA 98404 87%606$82,191$413,900$318 larger
Saint Helens, OR 97051 86%515$85,869$412,100$269 older residents
Glendale, AZ 85303 83%620$80,650$333,600$240 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · newer homes
South River, NJ 08882 82%2,487$96,147$405,200$331 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenix, AZ 85019 82%624$68,528$305,200$226 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger
Molalla, OR 97038 82%463$89,564$483,500$314 pricier homes ($84K more) · newer homes
Miami Gardens, FL 33056 81%2,537$68,583$372,200$370 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · older residents
Miami, FL 33170 81%2,539$73,958$474,400$337 pricier homes ($75K more) · older residents · newer homes
Phoenix, AZ 85031 81%624$70,412$294,800$214 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · older homes
Woodburn, OR 97071 81%467$70,938$340,800$275 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · older residents
Miami, FL 33167 78%2,540$62,846$381,100$335 larger · older residents · older homes
Youngtown, AZ 85363 78%614$68,321$320,000$214 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · older residents
Tacoma, WA 98445 78%600$92,520$444,800$282 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · older residents
Brockton, MA 02302 77%2,634$92,274$424,800$366 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · older residents
Glendale, AZ 85306 77%618$84,779$392,500$257 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Las Vegas, NV 89142 77%389$71,233$345,100$227 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · newer homes
Plainfield, NJ 07063 76%2,481$93,304$392,500$383 more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Hyattsville, MD 20784 76%2,380$86,509$369,900$275 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Hollywood, FL 33023 76%2,537$74,709$380,000$342 larger · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85053 76%620$70,011$367,000$247 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Cornelius, OR 97113 76%494$96,859$465,400$275 pricier homes ($66K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Portland, OR 97236 76%488$75,090$436,100$281 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Port Orchard, WA 98366 76%629$92,011$475,800$313 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Homedale, ID 83628 75%427$68,854$323,100$277 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85033 75%622$64,144$292,800$236 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger

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.