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.

Reset

Towns most like Newton, MA 02458

Newton: median income $153,520, home value $1,136,100, $544/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alexandria, VA 22301 82%393$194,819$1,027,900$616 higher income ($41K more) · cheaper homes ($108K less) · newer homes
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 81%166$165,417$765,500$537 cheaper homes ($371K less) · newer homes
Washington, DC 20016 81%389$178,920$1,216,000$565 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($80K more) · larger
Albany, CA 94706 81%2,677$143,398$1,203,500$836 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98112 81%2,478$171,572$1,549,100$681 pricier homes ($413K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Montclair, NJ 07042 77%189$122,847$821,700$590 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($314K less) · larger
Narberth, PA 19072 76%266$172,550$819,700$372 cheaper homes ($316K less) · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20007 76%389$140,996$1,292,400$727 pricier homes ($156K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Atlanta, GA 30306 73%927$123,077$799,800$389 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($336K less) · larger
Mamaroneck, NY 10543 72%163$126,417$729,600$560 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($407K less) · larger
Harrison, NY 10528 71%162$154,416$937,500$598 cheaper homes ($199K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Washington, DC 20012 71%385$121,418$863,900$421 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($272K less) · 8 min longer commute
Falls Church, VA 22046 71%395$168,882$1,014,700$476 cheaper homes ($121K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98199 71%2,482$180,789$1,198,700$629 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
White Plains, NY 10605 69%162$148,982$787,500$459 cheaper homes ($349K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19118 69%261$109,649$718,300$399 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($418K less) · older residents
Alexandria, VA 22307 69%395$141,667$778,900$425 cheaper homes ($357K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Oakland, CA 94610 69%2,677$134,507$1,379,700$642 pricier homes ($244K more) · larger · more renters
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 68%269$144,471$803,100$388 cheaper homes ($333K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Berkeley, CA 94705 68%2,676$167,970$1,992,800$899 pricier homes ($857K more) · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98136 68%2,483$149,269$925,000$544 cheaper homes ($211K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Greenwich, CT 06830 67%155$146,654$1,660,700$858 pricier homes ($525K more) · larger · less walkable
Tuckahoe, NY 10707 67%167$130,957$773,200$493 cheaper homes ($363K less) · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Denver, CO 80212 67%1,761$124,972$744,500$453 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($392K less) · larger
Rutherford, NJ 07070 66%184$143,153$603,600$489 cheaper homes ($533K less) · 5 min longer commute · more single-family 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.