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.

Reset

Towns most like El Monte, CA 91732

El Monte: median income $75,108, home value $644,200, $469/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98168 87%953$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller
Lake Worth, FL 33460 81%2,307$62,090$405,400$357 cheaper homes ($239K less) · smaller
Everett, WA 98201 81%986$74,554$499,800$384 cheaper homes ($144K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Aurora, CO 80010 80%824$63,579$424,600$305 cheaper homes ($220K less) · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98198 80%947$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Hempstead, NY 11550 79%2,453$92,677$465,100$460 cheaper homes ($179K less) · 6 min longer commute
Honolulu, HI 96819 79%2,573$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($310K more)
Dover, NJ 07801 78%2,404$84,517$392,400$366 cheaper homes ($252K less) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98444 78%933$65,342$416,400$310 cheaper homes ($228K less) · smaller
Miami, FL 33161 77%2,320$58,325$441,700$405 cheaper homes ($203K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33162 77%2,319$60,692$403,300$355 cheaper homes ($241K less)
Miami, FL 33169 77%2,316$62,562$403,200$328 cheaper homes ($241K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 77%2,314$75,952$423,300$350 cheaper homes ($221K less) · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97266 77%824$72,577$445,700$302 cheaper homes ($199K less) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98409 77%937$73,348$394,500$317 cheaper homes ($250K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80219 76%815$68,415$454,600$344 cheaper homes ($190K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Bremerton, WA 98310 76%965$75,878$440,500$286 cheaper homes ($204K less) · smaller
Brockton, MA 02301 75%2,581$74,214$449,400$321 cheaper homes ($195K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 75%2,314$75,361$469,700$375 cheaper homes ($175K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Sparks, NV 89431 75%390$66,592$365,100$294 cheaper homes ($279K less)
Portland, OR 97236 75%824$75,090$436,100$281 cheaper homes ($208K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Auburn, WA 98002 75%940$78,684$421,300$322 cheaper homes ($223K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Phoenix, AZ 85007 74%343$63,616$480,600$340 cheaper homes ($164K less) · smaller
Portland, OR 97233 74%825$60,198$414,600$267 cheaper homes ($230K less) · smaller
Lakewood, WA 98499 74%935$67,292$408,500$327 cheaper homes ($236K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes

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.