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 South Deerfield, MA 01373

South Deerfield: median income $106,413, home value $413,500, $250/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake George, NY 12845 89%85$100,774$355,900$325 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 6 min longer commute
Greenville, RI 02828 87%68$97,196$440,900$291 pricier homes ($27K more) · 7 min longer commute
Spicer, MN 56288 87%1,123$111,021$422,300$208 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Manchester Center, VT 05255 86%53$91,058$445,500$270 pricier homes ($32K more)
Enfield, NH 03748 85%83$95,089$388,500$290 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Valatie, NY 12184 85%54$98,622$355,200$276 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · younger residents
Elkhart Lake, WI 53020 85%779$89,155$330,900$248 cheaper homes ($83K less) · less walkable
Eliot, ME 03903 84%103$101,522$498,900$363 pricier homes ($85K more)
North Branford, CT 06471 84%79$109,388$371,200$273 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 8 min longer commute
Plantsville, CT 06479 84%64$114,346$359,000$261 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · younger residents
Selkirk, NY 12158 84%61$97,419$315,100$242 cheaper homes ($98K less) · newer homes
Clarence, NY 14031 84%307$103,750$343,700$249 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Thornton, NH 03285 83%110$90,022$351,900$254 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · newer homes
East Berlin, CT 06023 83%60$100,317$342,600$242 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
Westbrook, CT 06498 83%82$91,202$434,300$328 Very close on everything we compare
Marmora, NJ 08223 83%247$107,131$420,300$272 younger residents · more homeowners
Castleton On Hudson, NY 12033 83%56$98,569$288,700$213 cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger · younger residents
West Sand Lake, NY 12196 83%52$110,889$317,300$241 cheaper homes ($96K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Wynantskill, NY 12198 83%54$113,083$285,100$237 cheaper homes ($128K less) · younger residents
Frankenmuth, MI 48734 83%566$91,032$305,100$174 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Clear Lake, IA 50428 83%1,051$81,037$283,400$232 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger
Nobleboro, ME 04555 82%193$100,417$352,600$348 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Vergennes, VT 05491 82%119$87,917$337,400$286 cheaper homes ($76K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Berlin, CT 06037 82%59$116,042$377,100$236 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · younger residents
Elverson, PA 19520 82%230$100,088$417,200$201 10 min longer 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.