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 Jefferson, MA 01522

Jefferson: median income $100,625, home value $423,900, $278/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Richmond, VT 05477 87%149$108,971$424,400$295 9 min shorter commute
Grand Isle, VT 05458 86%177$101,728$403,200$297 Very close on everything we compare
Huntington, VT 05462 84%146$94,334$334,300$356 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · older residents
Shepherdstown, WV 25443 84%371$111,593$414,500$212 larger · more single-family homes
Holderness, NH 03245 83%95$107,863$363,100$273 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Mansfield Center, CT 06250 83%45$99,000$324,800$219 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Underhill, VT 05489 82%159$92,352$442,400$288 more single-family homes
Warner, NH 03278 81%64$94,783$356,900$257 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Jeffersonville, VT 05464 81%163$85,694$342,900$266 cheaper homes ($81K less) · more walkable
Westford, VT 05494 81%165$117,143$412,900$238 smaller · more single-family homes
High Bridge, NJ 08829 81%196$112,467$336,500$299 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more walkable
Valencia, PA 16059 81%432$110,828$408,500$243 larger
Fairfax, VT 05454 80%170$128,212$372,400$286 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Moretown, VT 05660 80%137$96,125$425,200$274 smaller · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Beacon Falls, CT 06403 80%89$101,516$350,300$279 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · older residents
Frenchtown, NJ 08825 80%208$101,774$451,500$326 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older homes
Waitsfield, VT 05673 79%134$98,068$448,000$362 9 min shorter commute · more walkable
Canton, CT 06019 79%64$117,418$390,400$231 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · older residents
Olivebridge, NY 12461 79%128$112,273$431,400$319 smaller · older residents
Oak Creek, CO 80467 79%1,812$102,143$663,500$404 pricier homes ($240K more)
Gray, ME 04039 78%130$95,125$357,500$270 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Woodstock, CT 06281 78%29$125,778$428,800$261 higher income ($25K more) · larger · older residents
Salem, CT 06420 78%64$123,425$405,800$245 more single-family homes
Altamont, NY 12009 78%112$120,101$342,900$247 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Voorheesville, NY 12186 78%107$112,446$360,000$232 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · 7 min shorter 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.