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 Hillsboro, OR 97123

Hillsboro: median income $109,985, home value $538,500, $298/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Sacramento, CA 95691 94%484$104,750$555,800$300 Very close on everything we compare
Mesa, AZ 85213 93%1,023$103,969$438,900$270 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Stockton, CA 95219 93%524$112,268$581,300$270 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Rocklin, CA 95677 93%472$105,713$654,200$349 pricier homes ($116K more) · smaller
Gilbert, AZ 85233 92%1,027$111,160$513,000$290 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Clovis, CA 93611 92%623$110,982$485,900$270 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more single-family homes
Woodland, CA 95776 92%475$106,698$575,700$304 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Everett, WA 98208 92%169$103,705$691,500$388 pricier homes ($153K more)
Phoenix, AZ 85024 91%1,001$106,724$471,000$303 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Glendale, AZ 85308 91%998$95,247$458,100$261 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Bremerton, WA 98311 91%148$108,757$471,800$299 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Olympia, WA 98516 91%112$98,892$572,500$322 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Vancouver, WA 98682 91%24$99,918$462,700$302 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23454 90%2,476$102,796$416,700$262 cheaper homes ($122K less)
Westminster, CO 80031 90%987$107,422$535,300$249 Very close on everything we compare
West Jordan, UT 84088 90%649$105,142$482,500$241 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Vancouver, WA 98662 90%23$94,303$453,200$282 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Vancouver, WA 98686 90%22$107,801$596,700$294 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Richland, WA 99352 90%184$100,108$474,100$263 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 89%2,693$106,149$576,700$294 pricier homes ($38K more) · 7 min longer commute
Peoria, AZ 85381 89%999$96,746$447,900$236 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Las Vegas, NV 89113 89%764$94,461$480,900$263 cheaper homes ($58K less) · newer homes
Las Vegas, NV 89149 89%752$101,697$512,700$243 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Sparks, NV 89434 89%443$91,507$457,000$302 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller
Reno, NV 89523 89%441$99,061$607,300$352 pricier homes ($69K more)

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.