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 Stanford, CA 94305

Stanford: median income $83,088, home value $2M+*, $1,123/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Los Angeles, CA 90024 65%312$76,583$1,478,500$695 cheaper homes ($522K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Seattle, WA 98105 58%708$74,349$1,312,100$578 cheaper homes ($688K less) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Boulder, CO 80302 51%926$61,698$1,190,800$604 cheaper homes ($809K less) · larger · more single-family homes
San Diego, CA 92122 50%421$105,177$1,046,300$742 cheaper homes ($954K less) · larger · older residents
Irvine, CA 92617 50%357$91,529$693,700— cheaper homes ($1306K less) · newer homes
Nashville, TN 37212 47%1,947$95,145$963,800$422 cheaper homes ($1036K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Austin, TX 78751 47%1,481$80,915$852,000$470 cheaper homes ($1148K less) · older residents
Boulder, CO 80303 45%928$78,555$961,900$467 cheaper homes ($1038K less) · older residents · more homeowners
San Diego, CA 92109 45%424$122,128$1,226,900$1,117 higher income ($39K more) · cheaper homes ($773K less) · larger
Berkeley, CA 94709 45%32$89,054$1,375,000$877 cheaper homes ($625K less) · smaller · older residents
Davis, CA 95616 45%81$74,359$895,600$470 cheaper homes ($1104K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Los Angeles, CA 90035 44%315$105,013$1,908,900$800 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger · older residents
Los Angeles, CA 90025 43%313$103,894$1,079,700$699 cheaper homes ($920K less) · larger · older residents
Boston, MA 02215 42%2,688$72,095$750,000$1,104 cheaper homes ($1250K less) · 5 min longer commute · more renters
Boston, MA 02114 41%2,689$132,210$924,400$1,148 higher income ($49K more) · cheaper homes ($1076K less) · older residents
Washington, DC 20037 41%2,428$111,153$685,300$639 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($1315K less) · older residents
Los Angeles, CA 90034 41%315$105,701$1,516,600$909 cheaper homes ($483K less) · larger · older residents
Seattle, WA 98102 41%705$114,925$963,200$617 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($1037K less) · older residents
Seattle, WA 98122 41%704$106,886$957,100$551 cheaper homes ($1043K less) · larger · older residents
Tampa, FL 33606 40%2,381$120,729$845,600$551 higher income ($38K more) · cheaper homes ($1154K less) · older residents
Los Angeles, CA 90048 40%314$103,495$1,932,000$952 cheaper homes ($68K less) · older residents · 11 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33146 39%2,571$131,500$1,318,200$804 higher income ($48K more) · cheaper homes ($682K less) · 7 min longer commute
Irvine, CA 92612 39%356$106,226$993,800$750 cheaper homes ($1006K less) · larger · older residents
Boston, MA 02111 38%2,690$87,404$1,033,500$1,037 cheaper homes ($967K less) · smaller · older residents
Berkeley, CA 94704 38%31$50,129$906,100$961 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($1094K less) · 9 min longer commute

* 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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