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 East Wareham, MA 02538

East Wareham: median income $123,750, home value $392,000, $404/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pascoag, RI 02859 92%56$124,592$385,500$288 larger
Hayden, CO 81639 91%1,893$110,404$443,600$354 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98443 91%2,530$105,035$519,100$320 pricier homes ($127K more)
Hot Sulphur Springs, CO 80451 89%1,840$111,875$421,100$349 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Florida, NY 10921 88%194$115,221$387,300$277 Very close on everything we compare
Northwood, NH 03261 87%103$129,375$363,000$308 cheaper homes ($29K less)
North Berwick, ME 03906 87%108$105,156$432,900$325 pricier homes ($41K more) · newer homes
Islandia, NY 11749 87%147$116,313$477,400$366 pricier homes ($85K more) · more homeowners
Fremont, NH 03044 85%87$120,781$416,900$325 newer homes
Buxton, ME 04093 85%129$100,144$356,800$332 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Branchville, NJ 07826 85%216$116,598$392,200$289 Very close on everything we compare
Hopatcong, NJ 07843 85%216$108,651$340,000$366 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Montgomery, NY 12549 85%187$122,734$407,900$258 larger
Candia, NH 03034 84%95$131,350$412,700$294 older residents
Ogdensburg, NJ 07439 84%210$105,551$324,500$287 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Mine Hill, NJ 07803 84%213$119,583$434,100$315 pricier homes ($42K more)
Stony Point, NY 10980 84%177$126,284$513,700$337 pricier homes ($122K more) · larger
Islip Terrace, NY 11752 84%149$151,917$527,700$380 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($136K more) · larger
Midland, VA 22728 84%433$120,789$516,300$262 pricier homes ($124K more) · newer homes
Lake Helen, FL 32744 84%1,064$112,599$453,700$238 pricier homes ($62K more) · newer homes
Homestead, FL 33031 84%1,255$109,945$497,400$375 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger · newer homes
Carlton, OR 97111 84%2,595$108,453$520,400$314 pricier homes ($128K more) · newer homes
Harrisville, RI 02830 83%53$121,111$408,700$259 larger · older residents
Hope, RI 02831 83%47$137,181$462,200$299 pricier homes ($70K more) · more homeowners
Milton, NH 03851 83%116$93,412$314,300$376 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($78K less)

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.