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 Westport, MA 02790

Westport: median income $97,250, home value $507,900, $350/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gardnerville, NV 89460 94%2,537$92,292$501,700$368 newer homes
Auburn, CA 95602 92%2,604$97,466$688,500$339 pricier homes ($181K more)
Grass Valley, CA 95949 92%2,601$98,181$550,800$302 pricier homes ($43K more)
Tiverton, RI 02878 89%5$106,036$411,900$306 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Placerville, CA 95667 89%2,596$89,938$547,600$316 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
North Scituate, RI 02857 87%32$108,679$428,100$265 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
North Smithfield, RI 02896 87%34$108,983$457,400$295 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Brick, NJ 08723 87%192$108,643$400,800$350 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · younger residents
Forked River, NJ 08731 87%204$98,582$404,200$330 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Dousman, WI 53118 87%892$108,772$372,600$274 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98443 87%2,514$105,035$519,100$320 smaller · younger residents
Charlestown, RI 02813 86%33$109,404$525,500$412 smaller
Kennebunkport, ME 04046 86%126$102,529$586,100$434 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller · newer homes
Newton, NJ 07860 86%197$110,045$367,100$283 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger
Merritt Island, FL 32952 86%1,068$102,726$425,700$253 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Alfred, ME 04002 85%130$84,537$352,100$293 cheaper homes ($156K less) · smaller
Waterford, WI 53185 85%878$103,225$384,600$246 cheaper homes ($123K less) · newer homes
Colfax, CA 95713 85%2,595$87,839$487,000$312 smaller · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Buxton, ME 04093 84%142$100,144$356,800$332 cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
North Branford, CT 06471 84%90$109,388$371,200$273 cheaper homes ($137K less) · smaller
Bayville, NJ 08721 84%199$105,273$383,900$329 cheaper homes ($124K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Brick, NJ 08724 84%190$103,127$411,000$352 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · younger residents
Orangevale, CA 95662 84%2,618$96,689$558,300$352 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · younger residents
Cashmere, WA 98815 84%2,424$88,108$554,300$310 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · younger residents
Eliot, ME 03903 83%105$101,522$498,900$363 smaller · 7 min shorter 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.