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 Brea, CA 92821

Brea: median income $123,629, home value $903,200, $593/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fullerton, CA 92833 94%5$114,176$884,100$637 Very close on everything we compare
Chatsworth, CA 91311 93%46$119,386$876,400$464 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Placentia, CA 92870 93%4$115,929$921,000$604 Very close on everything we compare
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 93%364$142,586$1,076,600$621 pricier homes ($173K more)
Seattle, WA 98118 93%968$113,762$810,500$480 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Cypress, CA 90630 92%12$130,154$909,700$602 Very close on everything we compare
Seattle, WA 98106 92%968$124,212$706,600$448 cheaper homes ($197K less)
Union City, CA 94587 91%344$133,715$1,104,900$729 pricier homes ($202K more) · larger
San Jose, CA 95136 91%321$142,433$1,144,000$706 pricier homes ($241K more)
Renton, WA 98056 91%964$113,688$797,300$467 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Tarzana, CA 91356 90%41$107,378$1,229,000$565 pricier homes ($326K more)
Lake Forest, CA 92630 90%23$125,853$910,300$637 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Huntington Beach, CA 92649 90%17$123,257$1,131,500$810 pricier homes ($228K more) · older residents
Kirkland, WA 98034 90%979$135,219$946,300$565 pricier homes ($43K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Torrance, CA 90503 89%28$125,912$1,099,700$745 pricier homes ($197K more)
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 89%26$133,194$1,063,300$666 pricier homes ($160K more) · more homeowners
Livermore, CA 94551 89%342$145,392$978,500$644 pricier homes ($75K more) · more homeowners
San Jose, CA 95123 89%319$144,276$1,166,800$788 pricier homes ($264K more) · larger
Woodland Hills, CA 91367 87%45$108,653$1,067,000$594 pricier homes ($164K more) · more renters
Santa Ana, CA 92705 87%13$129,331$1,203,400$713 pricier homes ($300K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Concord, CA 94518 87%362$112,094$859,000$522 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
San Jose, CA 95133 87%326$142,170$1,082,400$673 pricier homes ($179K more)
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 87%985$107,687$667,100$438 cheaper homes ($236K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98126 87%969$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller · older homes
Woburn, MA 01801 86%2,571$111,185$673,500$456 cheaper homes ($230K less) · 6 min shorter commute

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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