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 North Bend, WA 98045

North Bend: median income $175,765, home value $938,500, $494/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Salinas, CA 93908 92%751$156,394$1,091,700$549 pricier homes ($153K more)
Hanover, MA 02339 91%2,478$189,803$755,400$385 cheaper homes ($183K less)
Wilmington, MA 01887 90%2,450$168,152$680,500$422 cheaper homes ($258K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33331 88%2,681$142,636$712,000$413 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($227K less) · larger
Yorba Linda, CA 92887 88%962$163,953$1,179,100$575 pricier homes ($241K more) · older residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33332 87%2,679$172,730$909,000$395 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Clayton, CA 94517 87%661$168,921$1,032,100$481 pricier homes ($94K more) · 8 min longer commute
Warren, NJ 07059 86%2,356$212,479$921,500$440 higher income ($37K more)
Porter Ranch, CA 91326 86%928$148,281$1,106,000$537 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($168K more) · larger
Upland, CA 91784 86%946$154,349$891,600$435 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · older residents
Moorpark, CA 93021 86%924$147,636$904,200$457 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
North Reading, MA 01864 85%2,453$147,768$710,500$425 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($228K less) · older homes
Alpine, UT 84004 85%693$170,500$980,300$289 pricier homes ($42K more)
Valencia, CA 91354 85%916$156,173$856,500$428 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · newer homes
Oak Park, CA 91377 85%931$163,085$1,036,900$571 pricier homes ($98K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Chula Vista, CA 91914 85%1,054$190,786$1,049,600$474 pricier homes ($111K more) · more walkable · newer homes
Granite Bay, CA 95746 85%604$183,305$1,099,500$430 pricier homes ($161K more) · larger · older residents
Littleton, MA 01460 84%2,436$149,722$658,300$374 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($280K less)
Middleton, MA 01949 84%2,456$167,402$742,700$402 cheaper homes ($196K less) · smaller
Medway, MA 02053 84%2,451$173,750$617,300$337 cheaper homes ($321K less) · older homes
Golden, CO 80403 84%976$151,276$838,000$344 cheaper homes ($101K less) · older residents
Midway, UT 84049 84%701$151,343$891,500$371 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · newer homes
Windham, NH 03087 83%2,436$189,583$723,300$322 cheaper homes ($215K less)
East Setauket, NY 11733 83%2,410$173,281$683,400$408 cheaper homes ($255K less) · older homes
San Clemente, CA 92673 83%992$182,178$1,375,700$732 pricier homes ($437K more) · larger · newer homes

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.