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 Walnut Creek, CA 94597

Walnut Creek: median income $132,063, home value $1,026,800, $597/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Walnut Creek, CA 94596 95%1$135,635$1,277,800$653 pricier homes ($251K more)
Seattle, WA 98116 93%667$126,151$973,400$612 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Playa Del Rey, CA 90293 90%341$134,313$997,600$700 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Woodland Hills, CA 91367 89%323$108,653$1,067,000$594 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 87%329$116,170$1,520,000$728 pricier homes ($493K more)
Huntington Beach, CA 92648 85%371$130,164$1,239,500$772 pricier homes ($213K more) · larger · older residents
Harrison, NY 10528 81%2,556$154,416$937,500$598 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · older homes
Fairfax, VA 22031 81%2,403$134,577$723,600$356 cheaper homes ($303K less) · larger
Studio City, CA 91604 81%332$141,875$1,700,300$822 pricier homes ($674K more)
Irvine, CA 92614 81%377$122,821$1,076,700$822 pricier homes ($50K more) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33133 80%2,572$103,420$1,022,400$923 lower income ($29K less) · larger
Fremont, CA 94538 80%27$147,301$1,136,600$894 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger
Bellevue, WA 98007 80%670$131,109$1,018,100$543 younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Bothell, WA 98011 80%679$131,667$933,000$486 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Plainsboro, NJ 08536 79%2,521$137,607$704,100$404 cheaper homes ($323K less)
Falls Church, VA 22043 79%2,406$145,881$881,600$456 cheaper homes ($145K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Mc Lean, VA 22102 79%2,403$153,949$955,500$417 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Torrance, CA 90503 79%350$125,912$1,099,700$745 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · older homes
Tarzana, CA 91356 79%326$107,378$1,229,000$565 pricier homes ($202K more) · more single-family homes
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 79%330$109,461$1,430,800$771 pricier homes ($404K more) · older homes
Secaucus, NJ 07094 78%2,540$139,821$571,900$352 cheaper homes ($455K less)
Culver City, CA 90230 78%340$107,109$1,019,900$710 5 min shorter commute · older homes
North Hollywood, CA 91602 78%333$102,914$1,055,900$636 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($29K more) · more renters
Emeryville, CA 94608 78%13$120,239$849,600$508 cheaper homes ($177K less) · more renters · more walkable
San Jose, CA 95133 78%39$142,170$1,082,400$673 pricier homes ($56K more) · 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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