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 Sandwich, MA 02563

Sandwich: median income $121,455, home value $617,800, $441/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 96%481$120,662$677,600$403 pricier homes ($60K more)
Corrales, NM 87048 92%1,990$102,004$574,000$319 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Charlestown, RI 02813 89%65$109,404$525,500$412 cheaper homes ($92K less)
North Hampton, NH 03862 88%89$144,583$670,400$496 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Tucson, AZ 85749 88%2,294$109,219$590,400$282 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Meadow Vista, CA 95722 88%2,630$125,625$697,800$369 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller
Vashon, WA 98070 88%2,541$120,571$790,700$530 pricier homes ($173K more) · 6 min longer commute
Moultonborough, NH 03254 87%147$106,440$641,300$374 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Old Lyme, CT 06371 86%98$132,045$499,400$372 cheaper homes ($118K less) · older homes
Freeland, WA 98249 86%2,538$99,519$627,400$404 smaller
Wakefield, RI 02879 85%58$112,231$564,700$445 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · younger residents
New London, NH 03257 85%140$107,000$559,000$346 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
York, ME 03909 85%100$115,608$638,400$414 younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Allentown, NJ 08501 85%240$146,182$588,800$312 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Santa Fe, NM 87508 85%1,946$101,565$561,200$335 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · newer homes
Sisters, OR 97759 85%2,543$102,734$777,700$425 pricier homes ($160K more) · newer homes
Kennebunkport, ME 04046 84%116$102,529$586,100$434 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents
Farmingdale, NJ 07727 84%219$129,931$652,400$365 pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents
Oakdale, NY 11769 84%153$123,558$607,000$389 older homes
Saugatuck, MI 49453 84%805$110,139$490,600$404 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller
Cave Creek, AZ 85331 84%2,304$129,083$741,700$355 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger · newer homes
Kennebunk, ME 04043 83%116$107,804$487,700$378 cheaper homes ($130K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Guilford, CT 06437 83%118$137,615$515,000$301 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger
Sarasota, FL 34241 83%1,204$116,412$564,600$267 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Loomis, CA 95650 83%2,642$117,912$751,700$484 pricier homes ($134K more) · younger residents

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.