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 Centerville, MA 02632

Centerville: median income $121,317, home value $616,700, $486/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vashon, WA 98070 95%2,548$120,571$790,700$530 pricier homes ($174K more)
Charlestown, RI 02813 87%70$109,404$525,500$412 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Hampton Bays, NY 11946 87%125$133,918$737,400$659 pricier homes ($121K more) · younger residents
Kennebunkport, ME 04046 86%120$102,529$586,100$434 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Kings Park, NY 11754 86%159$123,393$624,700$414 larger · younger residents
Miller Place, NY 11764 86%146$146,813$615,900$377 higher income ($25K more) · younger residents
Oakdale, NY 11769 86%158$123,558$607,000$389 more apartments and townhomes
Saint James, NY 11780 85%155$144,577$723,200$466 pricier homes ($107K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Loomis, CA 95650 85%2,649$117,912$751,700$484 pricier homes ($135K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Southold, NY 11971 84%115$129,507$843,300$587 pricier homes ($227K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Farmingdale, NJ 07727 83%224$129,931$652,400$365 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · younger residents
Mattituck, NY 11952 83%122$120,139$764,300$531 pricier homes ($148K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Clinton, WA 98236 83%2,538$94,362$668,400$423 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller
Kingston, WA 98346 83%2,546$114,779$612,800$348 newer homes
Old Lyme, CT 06371 82%104$132,045$499,400$372 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Oceanport, NJ 07757 82%212$126,094$757,700$524 pricier homes ($141K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 82%482$120,662$677,600$403 pricier homes ($61K more) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Wakefield, RI 02879 81%63$112,231$564,700$445 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Port Monmouth, NJ 07758 81%213$115,298$530,000$401 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Bayville, NY 11709 81%174$149,191$710,000$454 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller
Smithtown, NY 11787 81%159$143,101$679,800$424 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · younger residents
East Moriches, NY 11940 81%138$138,639$661,600$432 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · younger residents
Corrales, NM 87048 81%1,997$102,004$574,000$319 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Upland, CA 91784 81%2,598$154,349$891,600$435 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($275K more) · larger
Boulder Creek, CA 95006 81%2,740$102,167$843,200$521 pricier homes ($227K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute

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.