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 Sarasota, FL 34233

Sarasota: median income $75,394, home value $411,600, $226/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tucson, AZ 85715 94%1,729$85,069$370,000$219 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Sarasota, FL 34235 91%6$78,958$370,400$218 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents
Sarasota, FL 34231 89%3$69,925$386,900$270 larger
Sarasota, FL 34232 89%3$80,795$359,900$250 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Bradenton, FL 34209 88%16$81,728$390,700$256 larger · older residents
Sarasota, FL 34243 88%9$81,219$429,400$238 larger · less walkable
Mesa, AZ 85205 87%1,788$73,283$339,900$256 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Mesa, AZ 85206 86%1,788$75,607$357,900$239 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · younger residents
Port Orange, FL 32127 85%157$71,676$340,900$236 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Boulder City, NV 89005 85%1,985$74,375$435,600$289 Very close on everything we compare
Merritt Island, FL 32953 84%131$87,262$419,200$225 Very close on everything we compare
Palm Harbor, FL 34683 84%57$92,885$452,100$286 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Panama City Beach, FL 32413 83%295$80,039$441,300$334 pricier homes ($30K more)
Clearwater, FL 33761 83%54$74,728$289,700$235 cheaper homes ($122K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Largo, FL 33774 83%46$79,139$334,400$280 cheaper homes ($77K less) · older homes
Palm Harbor, FL 34684 83%57$72,145$342,400$253 cheaper homes ($69K less) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 83%61$74,854$337,000$242 cheaper homes ($75K less) · 8 min longer commute
Safety Harbor, FL 34695 83%52$95,238$439,300$316 pricier homes ($28K more)
Dunedin, FL 34698 83%54$74,078$392,300$315 larger · older residents · older homes
Traverse City, MI 49686 83%1,220$71,609$344,700$289 cheaper homes ($67K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Asheville, NC 28805 82%574$75,151$412,500$281 younger residents
Seminole, FL 33772 82%43$73,586$366,900$298 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older homes
Seminole, FL 33777 82%43$86,375$353,100$261 cheaper homes ($59K less) · younger residents
Louisville, KY 40243 82%777$77,587$323,200$196 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller
Allentown, PA 18106 81%999$92,813$412,200$233 smaller · younger residents

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.

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