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 Kirkland, WA 98034

Kirkland: median income $135,219, home value $946,300, $565/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Diego, CA 92120 92%1,065$120,661$924,900$654 smaller
San Diego, CA 92126 92%1,056$126,913$865,400$643 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 90%1,004$133,194$1,063,300$666 pricier homes ($117K more) · smaller
Brea, CA 92821 90%979$123,629$903,200$593 cheaper homes ($43K less) · 5 min longer commute
Lake Forest, CA 92630 89%1,000$125,853$910,300$637 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 89%675$142,586$1,076,600$621 pricier homes ($130K more) · smaller
Falls Church, VA 22043 88%2,308$145,881$881,600$456 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92128 88%1,051$131,077$927,100$597 older residents
San Jose, CA 95136 88%722$142,433$1,144,000$706 pricier homes ($198K more)
Dallas, TX 75214 87%1,678$132,313$777,100$431 cheaper homes ($169K less) · smaller · older homes
Redondo Beach, CA 90278 87%977$160,236$1,242,700$783 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($296K more)
Claremont, CA 91711 87%969$126,056$894,300$503 cheaper homes ($52K less) · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28211 86%2,280$132,917$774,900$360 cheaper homes ($171K less) · smaller
Cypress, CA 90630 86%984$130,154$909,700$602 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Santa Ana, CA 92705 86%992$129,331$1,203,400$713 pricier homes ($257K more)
Placentia, CA 92870 86%983$115,929$921,000$604 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Morristown, NJ 07960 85%2,370$160,334$735,600$476 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($211K less)
Miami, FL 33156 85%2,728$137,076$1,120,100$619 pricier homes ($174K more) · smaller · older residents
San Jose, CA 95123 85%724$144,276$1,166,800$788 pricier homes ($221K more)
San Jose, CA 95131 85%714$170,255$1,164,800$764 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($219K more) · smaller
Carlsbad, CA 92010 84%1,038$129,926$1,103,300$639 pricier homes ($157K more) · smaller · newer homes
Waltham, MA 02451 83%2,468$122,335$753,000$487 cheaper homes ($193K less) · smaller · older homes
Falls Church, VA 22042 83%2,309$138,255$715,800$426 cheaper homes ($231K less) · older homes
Golden, CO 80401 83%1,009$118,039$804,500$350 cheaper homes ($142K less) · less walkable
Irvine, CA 92604 83%996$133,869$1,058,000$830 pricier homes ($112K more) · smaller · older residents

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.