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 Dorchester Center, MA 02124

Dorchester Center: median income $81,923, home value $650,700, $418/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bayonne, NJ 07002 85%194$83,887$460,100$354 cheaper homes ($191K less) · newer homes
Kearny, NJ 07032 85%191$79,154$459,400$364 cheaper homes ($191K less) · newer homes
Bronx, NY 10469 85%174$76,020$665,400$410 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11210 83%188$83,692$838,000$508 pricier homes ($187K more) · 9 min longer commute
North Bergen, NJ 07047 82%185$78,911$473,500$425 cheaper homes ($177K less) · newer homes
Jersey City, NJ 07307 82%187$83,297$582,600$567 cheaper homes ($68K less) · newer homes
Bronx, NY 10461 82%175$67,028$663,500$420 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Garfield, NJ 07026 81%185$79,700$475,500$381 cheaper homes ($175K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Bronx, NY 10466 81%173$65,969$616,800$382 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Bronx, NY 10470 81%173$90,046$497,700$399 cheaper homes ($153K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
New Rochelle, NY 10801 80%169$85,573$575,300$378 cheaper homes ($75K less) · newer homes
East Elmhurst, NY 11369 80%179$80,297$736,300$526 pricier homes ($86K more) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Jackson Heights, NY 11372 80%180$78,606$469,400$528 cheaper homes ($181K less) · older residents
Woodside, NY 11377 80%181$73,073$727,200$586 pricier homes ($77K more) · newer homes
Brooklyn, NY 11230 79%189$70,027$874,500$458 pricier homes ($224K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60608 79%850$73,366$358,600$300 cheaper homes ($292K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Brooklyn, NY 11229 78%189$70,603$818,900$519 pricier homes ($168K more) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Ridgewood, NY 11385 78%183$88,838$861,500$556 pricier homes ($211K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Richmond Hill, NY 11418 78%180$90,156$788,500$562 pricier homes ($138K more) · smaller · 10 min longer commute
Jersey City, NJ 07305 77%191$76,527$450,800$353 cheaper homes ($200K less) · newer homes
Staten Island, NY 10301 77%194$85,609$684,700$389 pricier homes ($34K more) · 10 min longer commute · newer homes
Yonkers, NY 10703 77%172$89,773$527,600$341 cheaper homes ($123K less) · smaller · older residents
Maspeth, NY 11378 77%182$85,830$834,100$585 pricier homes ($183K more) · smaller · older residents
Oakland, CA 94601 77%2,683$72,359$710,000$458 pricier homes ($59K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Bronx, NY 10465 76%174$87,985$625,800$443 7 min longer commute · more homeowners · 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.