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 Chualar, CA 93925

Chualar: median income $72,604, home value $679,300, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hopland, CA 95449 71%185$90,469$640,600$346 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Mount Angel, OR 97362 68%590$66,250$462,400$287 cheaper homes ($217K less) · larger · more homeowners
Gonzales, CA 93926 67%7$77,694$621,900$574 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · younger residents
Hilmar, CA 95324 66%64$76,316$462,900$331 cheaper homes ($216K less) · larger · more homeowners
Castroville, CA 95012 63%22$80,288$598,900$333 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · younger residents
Crows Landing, CA 95313 63%61$90,018$428,100— cheaper homes ($251K less) · older residents · less walkable
Guadalupe, CA 93434 62%123$67,231$498,800$419 cheaper homes ($181K less) · larger · younger residents
Piru, CA 93040 61%211$94,556$624,300— cheaper homes ($55K less) · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Thornton, CA 95686 59%113$52,109$448,900$391 cheaper homes ($230K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Waimea, HI 96796 59%2,496$89,205$769,700$627 pricier homes ($90K more) · older residents · older homes
Sumas, WA 98295 59%856$98,965$456,200$296 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($223K less) · larger
Brewster, WA 98812 59%801$59,297$354,500$273 cheaper homes ($325K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
French Camp, CA 95231 58%89$90,417$455,400— cheaper homes ($224K less) · larger · more homeowners
Redwood Valley, CA 95470 58%210$76,250$627,500$356 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · more homeowners
Hamilton City, CA 95951 57%219$70,294$330,100$285 cheaper homes ($349K less) · larger · younger residents
Tangent, OR 97389 57%557$94,909$433,000$295 cheaper homes ($246K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Orondo, WA 98843 57%770$69,425$750,900$295 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · older residents
Bigfoot, TX 78005 56%1,406$70,559$263,000$218 cheaper homes ($416K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Caruthers, CA 93609 56%88$78,750$333,200$206 cheaper homes ($346K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Loleta, CA 95551 56%319$64,519$558,100$271 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger · older homes
Gordonville, PA 17529 55%2,442$80,050$362,100$232 cheaper homes ($317K less) · larger · younger residents
Hickman, CA 95323 55%81$75,938$568,200$441 cheaper homes ($111K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Waterford, CA 95386 55%83$73,196$416,500$308 cheaper homes ($263K less) · larger · more homeowners
Prescott, WA 99348 55%692$79,167$237,200— cheaper homes ($442K less) · less walkable
San Bernardino, CA 92408 54%292$68,333$426,400$392 cheaper homes ($253K less) · larger · more walkable

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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