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 Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Lake Oswego: median income $130,603, home value $837,100, $364/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Englewood, CO 80111 96%990$135,995$916,500$314 pricier homes ($79K more)
Dallas, TX 75209 93%1,626$134,707$864,200$391 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · younger residents
Dallas, TX 75230 91%1,625$110,956$931,500$359 pricier homes ($94K more)
Houston, TX 77024 91%1,825$136,149$1,127,500$414 pricier homes ($290K more)
Charlotte, NC 28211 90%2,291$132,917$774,900$360 cheaper homes ($62K less) · younger residents
Nashville, TN 37205 90%1,964$139,152$953,300$403 pricier homes ($116K more)
Winter Park, FL 32789 89%2,525$106,671$791,400$464 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Lafayette, CO 80026 88%967$120,187$705,600$310 cheaper homes ($132K less)
Louisville, CO 80027 88%966$154,232$890,200$358 pricier homes ($53K more) · newer homes
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 87%2,424$111,907$755,100$472 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75214 87%1,630$132,313$777,100$431 cheaper homes ($60K less) · younger residents · older homes
Austin, TX 78731 87%1,702$105,494$903,200$420 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($66K more)
Scottsdale, AZ 85254 87%995$123,203$785,700$426 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Decatur, GA 30030 86%2,174$126,830$631,500$328 cheaper homes ($206K less) · 6 min longer commute
Plano, TX 75093 86%1,620$124,563$670,500$259 cheaper homes ($167K less) · larger · newer homes
Tampa, FL 33609 85%2,499$115,844$605,600$361 cheaper homes ($232K less) · younger residents
Falls Church, VA 22043 84%2,343$145,881$881,600$456 pricier homes ($45K more) · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30338 84%2,165$135,148$611,300$249 cheaper homes ($226K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63141 84%1,708$133,851$620,900$214 cheaper homes ($216K less)
San Diego, CA 92128 84%909$131,077$927,100$597 pricier homes ($90K more) · larger
Cary, NC 27518 83%2,369$123,488$632,200$257 cheaper homes ($205K less) · newer homes
Boulder, CO 80304 83%958$126,558$1,210,200$619 pricier homes ($373K more)
Boise, ID 83712 83%346$105,574$859,000$416 lower income ($25K less) · smaller
Mukilteo, WA 98275 83%174$132,861$884,900$418 pricier homes ($48K more) · 5 min longer commute
Florham Park, NJ 07932 82%2,422$156,458$791,100$530 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($46K 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.