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 Newtonville, MA 02460

Newtonville: median income $177,837, home value $1,224,600, $588/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98112 89%2,477$171,572$1,549,100$681 pricier homes ($325K more) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22301 87%392$194,819$1,027,900$616 cheaper homes ($197K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Washington, DC 20016 83%388$178,920$1,216,000$565 larger · newer homes
Albany, CA 94706 80%2,676$143,398$1,203,500$836 lower income ($34K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Berkeley, CA 94705 77%2,675$167,970$1,992,800$899 pricier homes ($768K more) · 6 min longer commute
Narberth, PA 19072 76%265$172,550$819,700$372 cheaper homes ($405K less) · more homeowners
Seattle, WA 98199 76%2,481$180,789$1,198,700$629 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Pasadena, CA 91105 74%2,577$156,791$1,671,000$841 pricier homes ($446K more) · newer homes
Oakland, CA 94618 74%2,675$201,780$1,753,100$855 pricier homes ($529K more) · larger · more homeowners
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 72%165$165,417$765,500$537 cheaper homes ($459K less) · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Chevy Chase, MD 20815 71%386$194,971$1,294,200$480 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · newer homes
Falls Church, VA 22046 70%394$168,882$1,014,700$476 cheaper homes ($210K less) · larger · newer homes
Washington, DC 20007 68%388$140,996$1,292,400$727 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Oakland, CA 94611 68%2,674$180,549$1,537,700$751 pricier homes ($313K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Greenwich, CT 06830 67%154$146,654$1,660,700$858 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($436K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20015 67%386$250,000+*$1,245,600$557 higher income ($72K more) · larger · more homeowners
Summit, NJ 07901 66%199$179,701$987,900$715 cheaper homes ($237K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Sierra Madre, CA 91024 66%2,570$143,547$1,226,800$764 lower income ($34K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Seattle, WA 98115 66%2,476$156,142$1,094,600$578 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98136 66%2,482$149,269$925,000$544 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($300K less) · larger
Montclair, NJ 07042 65%188$122,847$821,700$590 lower income ($55K less) · cheaper homes ($403K less) · larger
Arlington, VA 22213 65%393$199,306$1,064,500$507 cheaper homes ($160K less) · smaller · more homeowners
South Pasadena, CA 91030 65%2,577$127,175$1,640,000$947 lower income ($51K less) · pricier homes ($415K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98117 65%2,480$182,984$1,043,500$564 cheaper homes ($181K less) · larger · more homeowners
Atlanta, GA 30306 64%926$123,077$799,800$389 lower income ($55K less) · cheaper homes ($425K less) · larger

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.