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 Cranston, RI 02910

Cranston: median income $90,698, home value $338,700, $271/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Merchantville, NJ 08109 90%227$90,242$252,000$222 cheaper homes ($87K less) · newer homes
Trenton, NJ 08610 90%202$83,906$264,600$282 cheaper homes ($74K less)
South Saint Paul, MN 55075 89%1,104$88,386$281,700$196 cheaper homes ($57K less) · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55420 89%1,115$82,170$328,400$207 newer homes
Tacoma, WA 98418 89%2,496$89,706$413,400$272 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller
Tacoma, WA 98408 88%2,496$80,899$410,500$320 pricier homes ($72K more)
Hillside, NJ 07205 87%163$99,528$397,400$353 pricier homes ($59K more) · 6 min longer commute
Villa Park, IL 60181 87%850$92,142$311,500$269 cheaper homes ($27K less) · newer homes
West Hartford, CT 06110 85%67$87,539$285,200$291 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Wilmington, DE 19804 85%261$79,701$264,100$219 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Houston, TX 77009 85%1,568$83,148$420,200$266 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger
Saint Petersburg, FL 33713 84%1,156$74,707$323,000$342 older residents · newer homes
Fort Worth, TX 76110 84%1,548$69,790$258,000$231 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Sacramento, CA 95822 84%2,616$86,801$466,000$345 pricier homes ($127K more) · larger · newer homes
Mount Ephraim, NJ 08059 83%232$89,375$249,700$256 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
Pennsauken, NJ 08110 83%227$83,729$208,800$222 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Norfolk, VA 23509 83%425$72,816$258,000$211 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Tampa, FL 33603 83%1,137$74,081$391,000$322 pricier homes ($52K more)
Franklin Park, IL 60131 83%845$76,658$287,000$278 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 6 min longer commute
Ogden, UT 84403 83%2,078$88,236$422,900$214 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger · less walkable
Spokane, WA 99205 83%2,260$77,374$327,400$190 larger · more single-family homes
Keansburg, NJ 07734 82%168$82,029$346,900$340 smaller · newer homes
Audubon, NJ 08106 82%230$111,002$304,800$280 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Levittown, PA 19057 82%211$93,738$328,000$263 less walkable
Wilmington, DE 19809 82%254$81,288$314,900$217 smaller

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.