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 98178

Seattle: median income $99,505, home value $660,400, $367/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saugus, MA 01906 94%2,482$101,539$603,400$393 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Covina, CA 91724 92%953$103,163$782,700$494 pricier homes ($122K more)
Glendora, CA 91740 91%951$99,083$787,400$489 pricier homes ($127K more)
West Covina, CA 91791 90%955$102,266$843,600$508 pricier homes ($183K more)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 89%2,706$93,603$495,000$298 cheaper homes ($165K less)
Keyport, NJ 07735 88%2,399$97,536$406,000$382 cheaper homes ($254K less)
Downey, CA 90240 88%959$101,904$815,600$597 pricier homes ($155K more)
Whittier, CA 90601 88%957$104,052$787,500$519 pricier homes ($127K more)
Lynn, MA 01904 87%2,483$99,614$560,500$391 cheaper homes ($100K less) · more homeowners
Randolph, MA 02368 87%2,489$109,665$496,800$346 cheaper homes ($164K less) · 6 min longer commute
South River, NJ 08882 87%2,390$96,147$405,200$331 cheaper homes ($255K less) · smaller
Arvada, CO 80003 87%1,005$91,464$534,700$265 cheaper homes ($126K less) · newer homes
Duarte, CA 91010 87%949$102,705$756,500$527 pricier homes ($96K more)
Covina, CA 91722 87%952$102,062$653,900$535 Very close on everything we compare
West Covina, CA 91790 87%954$102,927$770,900$522 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger
Oakland, CA 94605 87%672$106,068$849,300$490 pricier homes ($189K more) · larger
Fords, NJ 08863 86%2,390$115,861$438,000$386 cheaper homes ($222K less) · smaller
West Babylon, NY 11704 86%2,429$129,195$527,500$459 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($133K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80221 86%1,008$86,810$472,900$272 cheaper homes ($188K less)
Denver, CO 80232 86%1,010$96,217$521,600$251 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Mission Hills, CA 91345 86%935$94,215$712,200$508 pricier homes ($52K more)
Riverside, CA 92506 86%969$121,459$669,500$384 larger
Concord, CA 94518 86%659$112,094$859,000$522 pricier homes ($199K more)
El Sobrante, CA 94803 86%658$118,447$783,900$457 pricier homes ($124K more)
Sacramento, CA 95822 86%622$86,801$466,000$345 cheaper homes ($194K less) · larger

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.