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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 La Center, WA 98629

La Center: median income $106,779, home value $611,200, $278/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Silt, CO 81652 95%876$101,038$530,000$310 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Hudson, CO 80642 94%991$105,225$620,000$247 smaller
Granite Falls, WA 98252 94%155$98,370$520,700$375 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Bennett, CO 80102 93%1,012$113,125$542,600$229 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Rainier, WA 98576 93%69$104,896$446,900$297 cheaper homes ($164K less) · smaller
Montverde, FL 34756 91%2,512$108,500$545,300$282 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Buckley, WA 98321 91%92$127,411$571,200$296 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Gig Harbor, WA 98329 91%104$110,316$518,700$356 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Seabeck, WA 98380 90%119$125,229$578,900$341 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Foresthill, CA 95631 89%481$104,402$496,900$296 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Stanwood, WA 98292 89%161$101,765$654,100$338 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Sultan, WA 98294 89%143$96,676$527,600$314 cheaper homes ($84K less) · more walkable
Port Orchard, WA 98367 89%110$115,482$565,100$294 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
New Egypt, NJ 08533 88%2,428$113,583$492,500$279 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Orlando, FL 32833 88%2,545$98,733$427,900$237 cheaper homes ($183K less)
Reno, NV 89508 88%450$97,361$452,700$289 cheaper homes ($159K less) · larger
Belfair, WA 98528 88%108$91,058$430,200$303 cheaper homes ($181K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23457 87%2,466$116,250$571,000$312 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Weatherford, TX 76088 87%1,590$104,038$408,700$236 cheaper homes ($203K less) · larger
Rochester, WA 98579 87%68$99,411$463,400$300 cheaper homes ($148K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Amboy, WA 98601 87%8$106,776$515,000$277 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller
Sandown, NH 03873 86%2,503$135,040$483,400$324 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($128K less)
Lagrangeville, NY 12540 86%2,418$111,320$483,100$251 cheaper homes ($128K less) · older homes
Bealeton, VA 22712 86%2,319$103,618$412,900$248 cheaper homes ($198K less) · younger residents
Sorrento, FL 32776 86%2,510$100,573$410,100$224 cheaper homes ($201K 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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