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 Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Scotts Valley: median income $151,250, home value $1,136,400, $649/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 94%267$139,800$1,116,500$566 larger
Westlake Village, CA 91361 93%269$144,900$1,433,300$676 pricier homes ($297K more)
Aptos, CA 95003 91%9$148,412$1,198,700$764 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger
Santa Cruz, CA 95065 89%4$153,222$1,228,500$674 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller
Agoura Hills, CA 91301 88%273$163,317$1,116,200$584 larger
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 88%341$133,194$1,063,300$666 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · younger residents
Mission Viejo, CA 92692 88%343$131,175$1,037,300$636 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger
Fullerton, CA 92835 88%318$143,817$1,052,500$603 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Anaheim, CA 92808 87%326$158,462$1,069,300$627 cheaper homes ($67K less) · 6 min longer commute
Edmonds, WA 98020 87%743$130,319$1,031,500$625 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Woodinville, WA 98072 87%740$175,805$1,122,200$544 larger
Incline Village, NV 89451 86%189$166,509$1,461,200$763 pricier homes ($325K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
San Rafael, CA 94903 86%74$142,083$1,197,300$722 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · older homes
Novato, CA 94947 86%78$128,766$1,017,600$602 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger
Bedford, MA 01730 85%2,680$172,400$898,500$496 cheaper homes ($238K less)
Miami, FL 33156 85%2,561$137,076$1,120,100$619 larger
Newbury Park, CA 91320 85%264$148,991$948,100$507 cheaper homes ($188K less) · larger
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 85%347$129,457$993,800$697 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 85%345$140,452$1,190,900$731 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Mission Viejo, CA 92691 85%342$141,045$985,100$674 cheaper homes ($151K less) · larger
Orange, CA 92869 85%328$138,204$994,400$645 cheaper homes ($142K less) · larger · younger residents
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 85%37$153,781$1,556,800$812 pricier homes ($420K more) · less walkable
Soquel, CA 95073 85%5$118,169$1,062,800$699 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($74K less)
Honolulu, HI 96825 85%2,393$153,210$1,088,700$759 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Mukilteo, WA 98275 85%751$132,861$884,900$418 cheaper homes ($252K less)

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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