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 Plaistow, NH 03865

Plaistow: median income $108,317, home value $404,500, $312/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Florida, NY 10921 93%197$115,221$387,300$277 smaller
Telford, PA 18969 92%280$108,995$385,300$237 larger
Hope Valley, RI 02832 91%97$105,976$432,300$270 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Smithfield, RI 02917 91%68$110,938$451,800$281 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Seymour, CT 06483 91%143$107,708$370,000$242 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Millbury, MA 01527 90%56$118,790$450,100$285 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · older homes
Plainville, MA 02762 90%58$104,106$476,000$337 pricier homes ($72K more)
North Smithfield, RI 02896 90%64$108,983$457,400$295 pricier homes ($53K more) · older residents
South Berwick, ME 03908 90%31$98,289$425,700$274 more single-family homes
New Gloucester, ME 04260 90%87$108,797$357,100$257 cheaper homes ($47K less) · newer homes
Wrightstown, NJ 08562 90%263$103,493$301,800$282 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller
Holtsville, NY 11742 90%172$125,162$510,200$394 pricier homes ($106K more) · larger
Pleasant Valley, NY 12569 90%158$100,846$380,100$246 older residents
Ayer, MA 01432 89%31$101,966$463,800$344 pricier homes ($59K more)
Blackstone, MA 01504 89%60$94,191$404,400$286 5 min longer commute
Trenton, NJ 08620 89%260$105,368$373,800$307 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older homes
Zelienople, PA 16063 89%486$95,893$339,000$246 cheaper homes ($66K less)
East Greenville, PA 18041 89%283$98,615$317,700$217 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Hubbard, OR 97032 89%2,531$101,250$456,600$291 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller
West Boylston, MA 01583 88%48$106,094$441,500$312 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents · older homes
Pennsburg, PA 18073 88%283$115,766$369,300$218 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Roselle, IL 60172 88%867$110,750$346,800$244 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Willow Springs, IL 60480 88%860$98,917$363,800$237 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more walkable
Penrose, CO 81240 88%1,792$90,417$341,400$244 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Middleboro, MA 02346 87%66$97,056$468,700$299 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger

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.