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.

Reset

Towns most like Chester, NH 03036

Chester: median income $142,212, home value $552,300, $298/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dighton, MA 02715 93%80$140,066$489,900$391 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Rescue, CA 95672 93%2,579$146,769$767,400$331 pricier homes ($215K more)
Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 92%257$134,038$580,900$325 pricier homes ($29K more) · younger residents
Asbury, NJ 08802 92%250$135,689$461,700$261 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Elbert, CO 80106 92%1,746$136,852$748,800$295 pricier homes ($197K more)
West Kingston, RI 02892 91%103$135,809$490,600$269 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Harwood, MD 20776 91%399$149,300$616,000$228 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
Rutland, MA 01543 90%54$145,707$462,800$286 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · younger residents
Rochester, MA 02770 90%86$120,320$601,200$348 pricier homes ($49K more)
Port Republic, MD 20676 90%415$156,657$509,900$270 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Queenstown, MD 21658 90%374$128,274$483,200$300 cheaper homes ($69K less) · older residents
Jefferson, MD 21755 90%411$137,417$529,600$241 Very close on everything we compare
Milford, MI 48380 90%629$131,979$447,000$202 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Hubertus, WI 53033 90%856$136,786$476,900$280 cheaper homes ($75K less) · older residents
Hubbardston, MA 01452 89%51$123,500$371,600$311 cheaper homes ($181K less)
Douglas, MA 01516 89%68$153,172$467,000$291 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · more renters
Plympton, MA 02367 89%73$126,736$517,800$380 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Eads, TN 38028 89%1,123$151,389$463,600$210 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Eagle, WI 53119 89%870$117,759$416,500$292 cheaper homes ($136K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Sturbridge, MA 01566 88%73$137,730$415,900$268 cheaper homes ($136K less) · older homes
Mendon, MA 01756 88%62$132,256$616,000$314 pricier homes ($64K more)
Campbell Hall, NY 10916 88%186$135,556$492,400$295 cheaper homes ($60K less) · 6 min longer commute
Bluemont, VA 20135 88%436$114,219$573,500$347 lower income ($28K less)
Glenn Dale, MD 20769 88%400$139,773$580,500$214 pricier homes ($28K more)
Myersville, MD 21773 88%405$161,908$544,400$212 Very close on everything we compare

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.