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 Edmonds, WA 98020

Edmonds: median income $130,319, home value $1,031,500, $625/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Novato, CA 94945 91%670$107,790$1,124,100$560 pricier homes ($93K more)
San Rafael, CA 94903 90%675$142,083$1,197,300$722 pricier homes ($166K more) · larger
Aptos, CA 95003 90%748$148,412$1,198,700$764 pricier homes ($167K more)
Novato, CA 94947 89%671$128,766$1,017,600$602 Very close on everything we compare
Huntington Beach, CA 92646 88%1,003$130,672$1,076,500$786 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Fullerton, CA 92835 88%988$143,817$1,052,500$603 younger residents
Spring Lake, NJ 07762 87%2,419$116,295$927,700$705 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33156 87%2,738$137,076$1,120,100$619 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · younger residents
Scotts Valley, CA 95066 87%743$151,250$1,136,400$649 pricier homes ($105K more)
Westlake Village, CA 91361 86%961$144,900$1,433,300$676 pricier homes ($402K more) · less walkable
Woodland Hills, CA 91364 86%963$132,854$1,208,200$605 pricier homes ($177K more) · younger residents
Mission Viejo, CA 92692 86%1,011$131,175$1,037,300$636 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Belmar, NJ 07719 85%2,417$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($331K less)
La Palma, CA 90623 85%990$116,594$979,600$562 cheaper homes ($52K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Cerritos, CA 90703 85%989$134,987$932,400$636 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Agoura Hills, CA 91301 85%964$163,317$1,116,200$584 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($85K more)
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 85%958$139,800$1,116,500$566 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · younger residents
Lake Oswego, OR 97034 85%166$149,236$1,047,500$444 Very close on everything we compare
San Pedro, CA 90732 84%994$120,807$857,000$483 cheaper homes ($175K less)
Honolulu, HI 96825 84%2,679$153,210$1,088,700$759 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Los Alamitos, CA 90720 83%993$135,851$1,215,400$740 pricier homes ($184K more) · younger residents
Glendale, CA 91208 83%965$136,892$1,421,200$722 pricier homes ($390K more) · younger residents
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 83%1,012$133,194$1,063,300$666 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · younger residents
Mission Viejo, CA 92691 83%1,011$141,045$985,100$674 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · younger residents
Burlington, MA 01803 82%2,474$146,436$740,600$441 cheaper homes ($291K less) · younger residents · less walkable

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.