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 Portsmouth, RI 02871

Portsmouth: median income $116,831, home value $597,000, $392/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Phoenix, AZ 85028 94%2,277$125,054$642,200$365 pricier homes ($45K more)
Fairfield, NJ 07004 91%166$115,980$688,500$393 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller
Sewickley, PA 15143 89%469$132,674$454,900$257 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Newtown Square, PA 19073 89%244$134,839$610,300$279 Very close on everything we compare
Yarmouth, ME 04096 88%162$110,216$639,700$434 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Belmar, NJ 07719 88%177$119,828$700,900$488 pricier homes ($104K more)
Littleton, CO 80121 88%1,762$142,056$707,900$311 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($111K more)
Burlington, MA 01803 87%63$146,436$740,600$441 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($144K more) · larger
Freeport, ME 04032 87%167$107,326$508,400$372 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · less walkable
Boonton, NJ 07005 87%171$132,629$587,100$365 younger residents · older homes
North Easton, MA 02356 86%33$127,224$650,300$348 pricier homes ($53K more) · 7 min longer commute
Whippany, NJ 07981 86%173$149,893$614,100$444 higher income ($33K more) · smaller
Saint Petersburg, FL 33703 86%1,148$95,224$441,400$322 cheaper homes ($156K less)
Hadley, MA 01035 85%86$119,259$511,000$341 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Chelmsford, MA 01824 85%69$140,050$619,700$384 larger · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
York, ME 03909 85%112$115,608$638,400$414 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · less walkable
Mystic, CT 06355 85%41$137,425$453,400$305 cheaper homes ($144K less) · older residents
Moorestown, NJ 08057 85%224$158,770$680,200$308 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($83K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15238 85%455$116,575$491,700$251 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Neptune Beach, FL 32266 85%963$119,294$670,900$391 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller · more walkable
Boca Raton, FL 33486 85%1,168$105,540$664,100$530 pricier homes ($67K more)
Glenview, IL 60025 85%852$126,904$521,000$347 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · more walkable
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 85%853$134,724$599,900$331 smaller
Salt Lake City, UT 84124 85%2,092$120,408$746,600$363 pricier homes ($150K more) · younger residents
Scarborough, ME 04074 84%145$135,018$556,800$413 cheaper homes ($40K less) · less walkable · newer homes

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.