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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 Kent, WA 98042

Kent: median income $127,552, home value $658,500, $339/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Stevens, WA 98258 96%45$123,898$653,100$375 Very close on everything we compare
Elk Grove, CA 95624 95%619$125,332$633,300$312 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Monroe, WA 98272 95%35$122,352$713,300$396 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Fairfield, CA 94534 94%631$140,198$744,500$350 pricier homes ($86K more)
Tacoma, WA 98422 94%14$118,604$663,800$358 smaller
Temecula, CA 92592 93%994$134,313$709,000$354 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Snohomish, WA 98290 93%37$132,973$784,200$407 pricier homes ($126K more)
Ramona, CA 92065 92%1,028$125,285$800,100$394 pricier homes ($142K more)
Palmdale, CA 93551 92%905$119,801$585,100$264 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Howell, NJ 07731 91%2,403$134,056$494,600$353 cheaper homes ($164K less)
Santa Clarita, CA 91350 91%913$140,110$801,300$427 pricier homes ($143K more)
Corona, CA 92881 91%966$134,932$799,700$396 pricier homes ($141K more) · smaller
Bonney Lake, WA 98391 91%16$135,037$626,800$317 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Battle Ground, WA 98604 91%111$112,448$589,800$299 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Enumclaw, WA 98022 90%8$120,406$608,500$352 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Jackson, NJ 08527 89%2,400$115,487$485,800$299 cheaper homes ($173K less)
Hollywood, FL 33029 89%2,696$146,237$619,900$331 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Auburn, WA 98001 89%8$106,791$587,400$342 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Castaic, CA 91384 88%909$131,689$767,300$406 pricier homes ($109K more) · smaller · less walkable
Fallbrook, CA 92028 88%1,000$111,290$842,500$426 pricier homes ($184K more)
Vacaville, CA 95688 88%621$118,186$687,100$379 pricier homes ($29K more)
Auburn, WA 98092 88%6$122,300$635,900$324 more apartments and townhomes
Fontana, CA 92336 87%947$123,363$627,700$336 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Murrieta, CA 92562 87%987$114,266$663,600$318 5 min longer commute
Holbrook, NY 11741 86%2,435$144,346$536,900$403 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller · older homes

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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