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 Gilford, NH 03249

Gilford: median income $116,635, home value $456,500, $334/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Southampton, MA 01073 94%113$123,125$452,300$303 Very close on everything we compare
Marmora, NJ 08223 93%341$107,131$420,300$272 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Ocean View, NJ 08230 93%345$115,152$410,200$245 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Williamsburg, MI 49690 92%700$108,712$352,200$306 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Suffield, CT 06078 91%125$116,054$412,400$255 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Mills River, NC 28759 91%818$107,609$444,300$274 newer homes
Westminster, MA 01473 90%74$106,331$422,000$302 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 5 min longer commute
Eliot, ME 03903 90%43$101,522$498,900$363 pricier homes ($42K more) · more renters
Northford, CT 06472 90%164$105,729$405,200$264 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Fairview, NC 28730 89%805$102,900$433,300$267 older residents
Charlestown, RI 02813 88%149$109,404$525,500$412 pricier homes ($69K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Bowdoinham, ME 04008 88%82$108,479$405,500$330 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
North Stonington, CT 06359 88%147$123,938$397,100$305 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Ballston Lake, NY 12019 88%131$112,420$400,400$271 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
York, ME 03909 87%46$115,608$638,400$414 pricier homes ($182K more)
New Hartford, CT 06057 87%143$117,906$380,200$284 cheaper homes ($76K less) · 8 min longer commute
Plantsville, CT 06479 87%156$114,346$359,000$261 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Prospect, CT 06712 87%162$126,394$355,400$260 cheaper homes ($101K less) · 6 min longer commute
Watertown, CT 06795 87%160$104,850$365,500$244 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
Belmont, MI 49306 87%712$115,039$373,500$214 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Madison Lake, MN 56063 87%1,114$102,391$416,300$297 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Palmer Lake, CO 80133 87%1,753$120,625$482,500$254 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Grand Junction, CO 81507 87%1,940$107,528$515,500$298 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Chugiak, AK 99567 87%3,276$147,319$471,300$278 higher income ($31K more)
Northbridge, MA 01534 86%97$141,250$481,200$265 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.