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 Sierra Madre, CA 91024

Sierra Madre: median income $143,547, home value $1,226,800, $764/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glendale, CA 91208 94%11$136,892$1,421,200$722 pricier homes ($194K more)
Los Alamitos, CA 90720 88%26$135,851$1,215,400$740 larger
Pasadena, CA 91107 88%2$126,449$1,155,300$793 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Glendale, CA 91207 88%11$118,116$1,426,100$768 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($199K more)
Greenwich, CT 06830 87%2,451$146,654$1,660,700$858 pricier homes ($434K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Fairfax, CA 94930 86%366$145,362$1,170,000$732 cheaper homes ($57K less) · more homeowners
Los Angeles, CA 90056 85%22$133,048$1,607,200$638 pricier homes ($380K more) · 5 min longer commute
Pasadena, CA 91105 85%7$156,791$1,671,000$841 pricier homes ($444K more)
El Cerrito, CA 94530 85%351$128,529$1,114,100$771 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
San Rafael, CA 94903 85%368$142,083$1,197,300$722 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98136 84%951$149,269$925,000$544 cheaper homes ($302K less) · larger
Torrance, CA 90505 83%30$115,593$1,204,300$820 lower income ($28K less) · larger
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 82%345$142,586$1,076,600$621 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger · newer homes
Summit, NJ 07901 80%2,414$179,701$987,900$715 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($239K less) · larger
Harrison, NY 10528 80%2,446$154,416$937,500$598 cheaper homes ($289K less) · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
San Gabriel, CA 91775 80%4$118,610$1,092,700$782 cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Irvine, CA 92604 80%36$133,869$1,058,000$830 cheaper homes ($169K less) · larger · newer homes
Greenbrae, CA 94904 80%362$169,118$2M+*$894 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($773K more) · older residents
Port Washington, NY 11050 79%2,448$154,225$1,035,400$718 cheaper homes ($191K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Arcadia, CA 91006 79%3$123,533$1,260,000$688 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · more homeowners
Westlake Village, CA 91361 79%45$144,900$1,433,300$676 pricier homes ($207K more) · larger · older residents
Woodland Hills, CA 91364 79%31$132,854$1,208,200$605 larger · more homeowners
San Diego, CA 92106 79%110$142,897$1,515,200$973 pricier homes ($288K more) · larger · younger residents
Sausalito, CA 94965 79%356$146,946$1,537,800$878 pricier homes ($311K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33156 78%2,322$137,076$1,120,100$619 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · more homeowners

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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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