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 Andover, MA 01810

Andover: median income $172,606, home value $855,600, $412/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Westwood, NJ 07675 93%185$183,154$719,400$453 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Randolph, NJ 07869 91%216$169,497$665,700$351 cheaper homes ($190K less)
Fairfax, VA 22032 91%416$178,394$799,200$361 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Ridgefield, CT 06877 90%152$179,219$836,200$399 less walkable
Wayne, PA 19087 89%284$171,179$748,200$364 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Ramsey, NJ 07446 88%189$160,996$697,300$450 cheaper homes ($158K less) · smaller
Berwyn, PA 19312 88%286$204,384$855,000$376 higher income ($32K more) · smaller
Deerfield, IL 60015 88%851$183,125$606,000$302 cheaper homes ($250K less)
Moorestown, NJ 08057 87%270$158,770$680,200$308 cheaper homes ($175K less) · smaller
Malvern, PA 19355 87%289$169,417$692,300$315 cheaper homes ($163K less)
Vienna, VA 22181 87%412$211,911$998,300$402 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($143K more) · smaller
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 86%222$192,857$799,900$439 cheaper homes ($56K less) · newer homes
Highland Park, IL 60035 86%849$168,094$607,300$338 cheaper homes ($248K less) · more walkable
Fairfield, CT 06824 85%149$193,300$869,100$526 younger residents · older homes
Caldwell, NJ 07006 85%203$149,102$694,400$434 cheaper homes ($161K less) · older homes
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 85%216$183,655$718,200$475 cheaper homes ($137K less) · older homes
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 85%212$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($266K less) · smaller
Ambler, PA 19002 85%271$143,600$602,100$292 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($254K less)
Ellicott City, MD 21042 85%378$190,061$706,400$274 cheaper homes ($149K less) · newer homes
Springfield, VA 22153 85%417$174,228$693,600$344 cheaper homes ($162K less)
Libertyville, IL 60048 85%855$173,975$551,200$288 cheaper homes ($304K less)
Agoura Hills, CA 91301 85%2,609$163,317$1,116,200$584 pricier homes ($261K more)
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 84%229$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($264K less)
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 84%153$150,505$680,200$382 cheaper homes ($175K less) · smaller
Vienna, VA 22182 84%410$205,108$1,125,900$390 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($270K more) · newer 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.