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 Sammamish, WA 98074

Sammamish: median income $244,362, home value $1,366,900, $554/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hinsdale, IL 60521 85%1,708$249,200$1,032,800$405 cheaper homes ($334K less) · smaller
Saddle River, NJ 07458 82%2,374$244,022$1,188,500$501 cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller · older residents
Mc Lean, VA 22101 81%2,301$250,000+*$1,449,900$478 pricier homes ($83K more) · older residents · older homes
Southlake, TX 76092 81%1,646$250,000+*$1,007,500$367 cheaper homes ($359K less)
Danville, CA 94526 80%678$225,097$1,677,700$789 pricier homes ($311K more) · older residents · older homes
Vienna, VA 22182 79%2,297$205,108$1,125,900$390 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($241K less) · more renters
Lake Forest, IL 60045 79%1,699$233,125$923,500$404 cheaper homes ($443K less) · older residents · older homes
Sudbury, MA 01776 78%2,455$236,509$988,900$409 cheaper homes ($378K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78733 78%1,751$206,368$1,008,600$407 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($358K less) · smaller
Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679 78%992$211,250$1,323,600$628 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 77%2,370$236,023$1,265,000$456 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller · older residents
Potomac, MD 20854 77%2,297$250,000+*$1,165,400$370 cheaper homes ($202K less) · larger · older residents
Westwood, MA 02090 76%2,470$223,125$1,041,500$493 cheaper homes ($325K less) · smaller · older homes
Warren, NJ 07059 76%2,368$212,479$921,500$440 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($445K less) · smaller
Vienna, VA 22181 76%2,297$211,911$998,300$402 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($369K less) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92131 76%1,049$185,256$1,189,100$659 lower income ($59K less) · cheaper homes ($178K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Moraga, CA 94556 76%676$215,720$1,659,600$767 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($293K more) · smaller
Oakton, VA 22124 75%2,296$218,380$998,400$345 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($369K less) · smaller
San Diego, CA 92127 75%1,041$195,520$1,232,300$676 lower income ($49K less) · cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger
Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 75%990$195,046$1,020,500$658 lower income ($49K less) · cheaper homes ($346K less) · smaller
Danville, CA 94506 75%677$250,000+*$1,956,800$716 pricier homes ($590K more) · older residents · 10 min longer commute
Medfield, MA 02052 74%2,466$235,800$911,100$416 cheaper homes ($456K less) · smaller · older homes
Needham, MA 02492 74%2,466$226,645$1,218,800$564 cheaper homes ($148K less) · older homes
Bethesda, MD 20817 74%2,300$249,332$1,183,600$422 cheaper homes ($183K less) · older residents · more walkable
Great Falls, VA 22066 73%2,292$250,000+*$1,310,200$361 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · older residents

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or 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.