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 City, OR 97367

Lincoln City: median income $58,472, home value $424,300, $350/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Bragg, CA 95437 91%378$57,759$554,200$396 pricier homes ($130K more)
Mount Shasta, CA 96067 90%262$65,000$415,400$247 Very close on everything we compare
Port Angeles, WA 98362 87%222$70,123$403,300$298 larger
Port Angeles, WA 98363 87%217$64,869$385,100$331 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Cottonwood, AZ 86326 86%947$57,378$345,300$276 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Grass Valley, CA 95945 86%422$65,989$539,500$336 pricier homes ($115K more) · larger
Diamond Springs, CA 95619 84%460$66,429$373,900$321 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · less walkable
Boulder City, NV 89005 82%782$74,375$435,600$289 more homeowners
Hyannis, MA 02601 80%2,660$61,143$440,100$406 younger residents · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Hamilton, MT 59840 80%483$61,752$428,100$343 less walkable
Long Beach, WA 98631 79%102$71,705$409,400$335 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Albuquerque, NM 87107 78%1,136$61,672$311,800$264 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger · younger residents
Angels Camp, CA 95222 78%504$70,930$515,100$304 pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Morrisville, VT 05661 77%2,479$67,052$304,700$264 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 77%394$74,782$589,600$419 pricier homes ($165K more) · larger · less walkable
Oceano, CA 93445 77%701$72,261$573,800$501 pricier homes ($150K more) · smaller · younger residents
Port Hadlock, WA 98339 77%224$77,778$409,800$350 smaller · more homeowners
Cape Charles, VA 23310 76%2,517$62,500$377,300$318 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · less walkable
Seminole, FL 33772 76%2,541$73,586$366,900$298 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Pinellas Park, FL 33782 76%2,544$66,461$300,500$221 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Sarasota, FL 34231 76%2,579$69,925$386,900$270 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Polson, MT 59860 76%507$62,047$441,500$309 less walkable
Fortuna, CA 95540 76%299$63,695$389,500$266 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents
Chelan, WA 98816 76%277$82,577$499,200$421 pricier homes ($75K more) · less walkable
Largo, FL 33770 75%2,538$59,815$302,600$287 cheaper homes ($122K less) · larger · 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.