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 Seattle, WA 98146

Seattle: median income $102,520, home value $679,500, $451/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Covina, CA 91724 97%955$103,163$782,700$494 pricier homes ($103K more)
Duarte, CA 91010 93%951$102,705$756,500$527 pricier homes ($77K more)
Saugus, MA 01906 92%2,487$101,539$603,400$393 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Glendora, CA 91740 92%953$99,083$787,400$489 pricier homes ($108K more)
West Covina, CA 91791 91%957$102,266$843,600$508 pricier homes ($164K more) · 6 min longer commute
Concord, CA 94518 91%660$112,094$859,000$522 pricier homes ($180K more)
Oakland, CA 94605 91%673$106,068$849,300$490 pricier homes ($170K more) · larger · older homes
Downey, CA 90240 90%961$101,904$815,600$597 pricier homes ($136K more)
Whittier, CA 90601 90%959$104,052$787,500$519 pricier homes ($108K more) · 6 min longer commute
Carson, CA 90745 90%969$107,988$679,100$593 larger
New Milford, NJ 07646 89%2,396$114,889$580,400$467 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller
La Habra, CA 90631 89%965$104,251$818,500$545 pricier homes ($139K more) · larger
Winnetka, CA 91306 89%939$93,151$800,000$518 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger
San Dimas, CA 91773 89%955$105,338$800,700$515 pricier homes ($121K more)
La Mesa, CA 91941 89%1,056$115,381$928,700$525 pricier homes ($249K more)
Ventura, CA 93004 89%928$114,012$800,900$505 pricier homes ($121K more) · newer homes
Bristol, RI 02809 88%2,500$97,764$485,000$387 cheaper homes ($195K less)
Norwalk, CT 06851 88%2,419$111,341$587,400$407 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Amityville, NY 11701 88%2,432$117,033$499,500$442 cheaper homes ($180K less)
Torrance, CA 90502 88%968$94,291$697,400$557 smaller
Orange, CA 92865 88%973$127,431$872,700$571 pricier homes ($193K more)
Martinez, CA 94553 88%657$124,130$825,900$473 pricier homes ($146K more) · larger
Pearl City, HI 96782 88%2,673$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($195K more)
Peabody, MA 01960 87%2,487$96,501$596,700$406 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Chatsworth, CA 91311 87%936$119,386$876,400$464 pricier homes ($197K 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.