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 Lynnfield, MA 01940

Lynnfield: median income $173,214, home value $905,400, $418/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Setauket, NY 11733 92%153$173,281$683,400$408 cheaper homes ($222K less)
Ridgefield, CT 06877 91%153$179,219$836,200$399 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Bayport, NY 11705 91%162$164,300$646,500$426 cheaper homes ($259K less) · smaller
Lincroft, NJ 07738 90%220$189,000$807,300$470 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller
Watchung, NJ 07069 89%220$171,705$883,300$405 smaller · older residents
Township Of Washington, NJ 07676 89%189$180,133$664,000$432 cheaper homes ($241K less)
Kendall Park, NJ 08824 87%233$174,776$628,000$360 cheaper homes ($277K less) · newer homes
Orangeburg, NY 10962 87%183$148,500$712,300$403 cheaper homes ($193K less) · smaller
Commack, NY 11725 87%164$168,281$670,000$463 cheaper homes ($235K less) · larger
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 87%173$157,923$936,300$484 pricier homes ($31K more) · more renters
Hauppauge, NY 11788 87%162$149,726$653,900$414 cheaper homes ($252K less)
Westwood, NJ 07675 86%186$183,154$719,400$453 cheaper homes ($186K less) · larger · more walkable
New City, NY 10956 86%180$177,952$662,400$380 cheaper homes ($243K less) · larger
Old Bethpage, NY 11804 86%175$190,469$848,500$534 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 85%216$183,655$718,200$475 cheaper homes ($187K less) · larger · more walkable
Hillsdale, NJ 07642 85%187$186,688$677,500$447 cheaper homes ($228K less) · more walkable
Denville, NJ 07834 85%211$156,902$555,600$418 cheaper homes ($350K less)
Greenlawn, NY 11740 85%167$152,386$693,700$461 cheaper homes ($212K less)
Northport, NY 11768 85%163$172,570$801,700$483 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · older residents
Montvale, NJ 07645 84%186$178,269$709,700$466 cheaper homes ($196K less)
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 84%165$173,573$617,900$417 cheaper homes ($288K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Tappan, NY 10983 84%183$160,170$610,900$413 cheaper homes ($295K less) · smaller
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 84%151$150,505$680,200$382 cheaper homes ($225K less) · more renters
Oakland, NJ 07436 83%195$161,971$591,000$390 cheaper homes ($314K less)
Ramsey, NJ 07446 83%190$160,996$697,300$450 cheaper homes ($208K less) · more walkable

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.