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 Cumberland Center, ME 04021

Cumberland Center: median income $172,468, home value $579,000, $388/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stratham, NH 03885 91%62$151,998$655,400$349 pricier homes ($76K more)
Saunderstown, RI 02874 90%169$159,861$713,700$396 pricier homes ($135K more)
White Rock, NM 87547 90%1,968$156,444$505,900$332 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Bow, NH 03304 89%79$172,857$506,500$279 cheaper homes ($73K less)
South Glastonbury, CT 06073 88%189$201,477$560,900$270 higher income ($29K more) · older residents
Long Lake, MN 55356 88%1,150$156,622$707,800$295 pricier homes ($129K more) · older residents
Pennington, NJ 08534 87%333$175,573$573,000$324 larger
Mequon, WI 53097 86%888$135,929$499,800$266 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($79K less)
Groton, MA 01450 84%105$193,292$743,400$325 pricier homes ($164K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Topsfield, MA 01983 84%87$195,718$853,400$402 pricier homes ($274K more) · older homes
Newfields, NH 03856 84%64$197,885$646,400$371 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller
Glenmoore, PA 19343 84%382$160,256$567,700$267 older residents
Ada, MI 49301 84%765$183,125$548,800$273 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Auburn, NH 03032 83%78$153,253$600,300$294 older residents
Medway, MA 02053 82%128$173,750$617,300$337 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Windham, NH 03087 81%86$189,583$723,300$322 pricier homes ($144K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Ringoes, NJ 08551 81%329$162,617$595,800$314 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Kendall Park, NJ 08824 81%320$174,776$628,000$360 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · older residents
Franklin, TN 37069 81%1,032$157,939$815,600$349 pricier homes ($237K more) · larger · older residents
Anchorage, AK 99516 81%3,315$173,984$607,200$278 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Harvard, MA 01451 80%111$214,792$856,200$349 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($277K more) · 7 min longer commute
Westford, MA 01886 80%102$187,198$748,500$371 pricier homes ($170K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Amherst, NH 03031 80%94$153,125$537,300$289 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · older residents
West Simsbury, CT 06092 80%187$204,458$486,900$254 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($92K less) · older homes
East Hanover, NJ 07936 80%294$149,583$702,800$409 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger · older residents

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.