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 Snohomish, WA 98296

Snohomish: median income $177,583, home value $927,700, $406/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Upland, CA 91784 90%975$154,349$891,600$435 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older homes
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 90%636$165,467$916,000$369 larger
Wilmington, MA 01887 89%2,460$168,152$680,500$422 cheaper homes ($247K less) · older homes
Alpine, UT 84004 89%722$170,500$980,300$289 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Santa Clarita, CA 91390 88%943$151,897$878,400$388 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents
Windham, NH 03087 86%2,446$189,583$723,300$322 cheaper homes ($204K less) · smaller
Hollywood, FL 33029 86%2,706$146,237$619,900$331 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($308K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33331 86%2,705$142,636$712,000$413 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($216K less)
Purcellville, VA 20132 85%2,269$181,875$776,300$274 cheaper homes ($151K less)
Moorpark, CA 93021 85%953$147,636$904,200$457 lower income ($30K less)
Fairfield, CA 94534 85%664$140,198$744,500$350 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($183K less)
Middleton, MA 01949 84%2,466$167,402$742,700$402 cheaper homes ($185K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Hanover, MA 02339 84%2,488$189,803$755,400$385 cheaper homes ($172K less) · smaller · older homes
Valencia, CA 91354 84%945$156,173$856,500$428 cheaper homes ($71K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Chula Vista, CA 91914 84%1,084$190,786$1,049,600$474 pricier homes ($122K more) · smaller · more walkable
Granite Bay, CA 95746 84%631$183,305$1,099,500$430 pricier homes ($172K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Boca Raton, FL 33498 83%2,695$146,765$656,700$333 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($271K less) · smaller
Santa Clarita, CA 91350 83%946$140,110$801,300$427 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33332 82%2,702$172,730$909,000$395 smaller
Monument, CO 80132 82%1,051$161,670$773,100$225 cheaper homes ($155K less)
Gilbert, AZ 85298 82%1,145$156,425$652,400$291 cheaper homes ($275K less) · larger · newer homes
Salinas, CA 93908 82%778$156,394$1,091,700$549 pricier homes ($164K more) · smaller · older homes
Nesconset, NY 11767 81%2,424$152,985$637,900$407 cheaper homes ($290K less) · smaller · older homes
Golden, CO 80403 81%1,002$151,276$838,000$344 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($90K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85083 81%1,104$149,087$612,700$267 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($315K less)

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.