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 Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043

Mountlake Terrace: median income $107,687, home value $667,100, $438/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tacoma, WA 98466 96%41$101,778$602,400$351 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Woburn, MA 01801 95%2,474$111,185$673,500$456 larger
Seattle, WA 98106 94%18$124,212$706,600$448 pricier homes ($40K more)
Seattle, WA 98108 94%17$95,780$720,400$423 pricier homes ($53K more)
West Covina, CA 91792 92%978$94,817$696,200$489 pricier homes ($29K more)
Lynnwood, WA 98037 92%3$107,281$767,300$393 pricier homes ($100K more) · newer homes
Beaverton, OR 97008 91%163$96,116$578,100$338 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Springfield, VA 22150 90%2,318$123,114$635,900$335 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Ventura, CA 93003 90%947$103,761$816,300$535 pricier homes ($149K more) · larger
Renton, WA 98056 90%21$113,688$797,300$467 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger · newer homes
Torrance, CA 90502 89%987$94,291$697,400$557 pricier homes ($30K more)
Chatsworth, CA 91311 89%955$119,386$876,400$464 pricier homes ($209K more) · larger
Northridge, CA 91324 89%957$99,610$906,300$523 pricier homes ($239K more)
Sacramento, CA 95831 89%644$100,751$642,700$346 larger
Seattle, WA 98118 89%17$113,762$810,500$480 pricier homes ($143K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98146 89%20$102,520$679,500$451 more single-family homes
Waltham, MA 02451 88%2,472$122,335$753,000$487 pricier homes ($86K more)
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 88%2,391$111,711$524,400$439 cheaper homes ($143K less) · older homes
Englewood, NJ 07631 88%2,395$102,571$544,100$428 cheaper homes ($123K less) · older homes
Alexandria, VA 22309 88%2,323$107,376$567,200$327 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Miami, FL 33176 88%2,732$86,354$638,900$426 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Covina, CA 91724 88%974$103,163$782,700$494 pricier homes ($116K more)
Cotati, CA 94931 88%654$101,994$820,000$454 pricier homes ($153K more) · smaller
Norwalk, CT 06851 87%2,413$111,341$587,400$407 cheaper homes ($80K less) · less walkable
Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 87%2,388$101,740$483,700$369 cheaper homes ($183K less) · 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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