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 Tacoma, WA 98406

Tacoma: median income $104,264, home value $638,400, $347/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bristol, RI 02809 92%2,509$97,764$485,000$387 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Hawthorne, NJ 07506 91%2,398$110,237$533,700$383 cheaper homes ($105K less)
New Milford, NJ 07646 91%2,405$114,889$580,400$467 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Dallas, TX 75218 91%1,676$107,366$521,000$329 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Portland, OR 97218 90%118$88,924$496,600$316 cheaper homes ($142K less) · smaller
Stamford, CT 06907 89%2,423$106,379$590,000$421 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32804 89%2,545$113,231$561,000$351 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 89%1,011$89,627$609,800$331 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Beaverton, OR 97008 89%126$96,116$578,100$338 cheaper homes ($60K less) · newer homes
Waltham, MA 02451 88%2,488$122,335$753,000$487 pricier homes ($115K more)
Orlando, FL 32806 88%2,550$89,046$441,300$288 cheaper homes ($197K less)
Littleton, CO 80120 88%1,022$94,296$628,300$289 newer homes
Denver, CO 80215 88%1,012$85,190$650,100$298 Very close on everything we compare
Salt Lake City, UT 84106 88%696$101,551$567,900$329 cheaper homes ($71K less) · younger residents
Sacramento, CA 95831 88%608$100,751$642,700$346 larger · newer homes
Portland, OR 97206 88%123$98,548$498,300$338 cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger
Stoneham, MA 02180 87%2,492$113,964$671,900$437 pricier homes ($34K more)
Middletown, RI 02842 87%2,514$101,948$563,300$392 cheaper homes ($75K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034 87%2,390$104,663$428,600$403 cheaper homes ($210K less) · smaller
Totowa, NJ 07512 87%2,397$113,563$559,300$401 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Rockville, MD 20851 87%2,321$126,411$568,900$363 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Springfield, VA 22150 87%2,328$123,114$635,900$335 newer homes
Arvada, CO 80004 87%1,008$103,659$616,700$268 more homeowners
Englewood, CO 80113 87%1,022$96,590$709,100$408 pricier homes ($71K more)
Norwalk, CT 06851 86%2,427$111,341$587,400$407 cheaper homes ($51K less) · less walkable

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.