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 Orting, WA 98360

Orting: median income $125,842, home value $505,200, $286/sq ft, 41-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mechanicsville, MD 20659 91%2,347$121,654$416,900$230 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · older homes
Moyock, NC 27958 91%2,445$112,177$404,900$226 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Bennett, CO 80102 91%1,021$113,125$542,600$229 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Brighton, CO 80603 91%999$118,297$492,000$220 6 min shorter commute
Spotsylvania, VA 22551 90%2,311$110,370$391,400$236 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger
Loxahatchee, FL 33470 90%2,664$122,163$584,500$301 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Sun City, CA 92585 90%958$106,667$556,100$285 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Townsend, DE 19734 89%2,364$127,803$430,700$211 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Naples, FL 34117 89%2,637$110,614$461,600$327 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Spotsylvania, VA 22553 86%2,309$135,856$480,200$210 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Reno, NV 89508 86%524$97,361$452,700$289 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($53K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Prince Frederick, MD 20678 85%2,350$125,732$455,100$200 cheaper homes ($50K less)
King George, VA 22485 85%2,333$117,560$428,300$197 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Cedar, MN 55011 85%1,381$121,434$405,300$208 cheaper homes ($100K less) · older homes
Waxahachie, TX 75167 85%1,671$117,714$411,200$202 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Helendale, CA 92342 85%888$115,058$378,900$197 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller
Silt, CO 81652 84%896$101,038$530,000$310 smaller
Sparks, NV 89441 84%528$131,616$642,900$317 pricier homes ($138K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Westtown, NY 10998 83%2,355$129,348$462,000$282 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Lusby, MD 20657 83%2,363$115,748$333,500$218 cheaper homes ($172K less)
Senoia, GA 30276 83%2,174$107,525$403,400$214 cheaper homes ($102K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Zimmerman, MN 55398 83%1,363$103,419$355,100$193 cheaper homes ($150K less)
Godley, TX 76044 83%1,643$122,715$414,800$188 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Frederick, CO 80530 83%986$124,000$466,000$236 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Waddell, AZ 85355 83%1,064$123,055$494,000$238 10 min shorter commute

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.