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 Lake Elsinore, CA 92530

Lake Elsinore: median income $86,862, home value $502,200, $310/sq ft, 43-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Victorville, CA 92392 93%57$87,681$410,100$235 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Apple Valley, CA 92307 91%61$77,106$428,400$244 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Manteca, CA 95336 91%360$89,172$546,400$318 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents
Tracy, CA 95376 91%363$102,555$618,100$363 pricier homes ($116K more)
Moreno Valley, CA 92551 90%17$99,970$474,000$320 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Hesperia, CA 92345 89%53$69,485$400,800$273 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Perris, CA 92571 89%13$92,309$471,200$290 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Palmdale, CA 93552 88%74$85,954$451,300$286 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Moreno Valley, CA 92557 87%21$94,804$525,100$315 9 min shorter commute
Pittsburg, CA 94565 87%394$95,556$583,800$364 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger
Patterson, CA 95363 87%340$95,679$470,700$253 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Waianae, HI 96792 87%2,621$87,509$569,400$441 pricier homes ($67K more) · older homes
Wildomar, CA 92595 85%6$106,047$562,000$287 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Antioch, CA 94509 85%390$86,196$584,100$342 pricier homes ($82K more) · older residents · older homes
Victorville, CA 92394 84%62$78,466$385,400$238 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Hemet, CA 92544 84%25$73,596$404,500$278 cheaper homes ($98K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Stockton, CA 95206 84%369$83,432$424,600$270 cheaper homes ($78K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Spanaway, WA 98387 84%964$106,872$461,000$282 cheaper homes ($41K less) · less walkable
Apple Valley, CA 92308 83%57$66,568$383,600$241 cheaper homes ($119K less) · older residents
Riverside, CA 92503 83%19$96,268$597,300$384 pricier homes ($95K more) · 9 min shorter commute
San Bernardino, CA 92407 82%39$94,032$514,800$350 11 min shorter commute
Ceres, CA 95307 82%338$80,627$429,500$288 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Oakdale, CA 95361 82%345$92,963$516,000$317 smaller · older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Olivehurst, CA 95961 81%442$89,561$435,500$255 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Perris, CA 92570 80%9$79,393$471,200$366 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 9 min shorter commute · 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.

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