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 East Lyme, CT 06333

East Lyme: median income $129,083, home value $439,000, $273/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 95%295$129,655$375,700$216 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Delafield, WI 53018 95%834$124,595$521,400$284 pricier homes ($82K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55115 92%1,070$124,234$488,400$218 pricier homes ($49K more)
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 91%806$134,724$599,900$331 pricier homes ($161K more)
Glenmont, NY 12077 90%117$118,257$401,700$243 cheaper homes ($37K less)
East Amherst, NY 14051 90%350$135,663$421,300$238 larger
Altamont, NY 12009 89%130$120,101$342,900$247 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Red Hook, NY 12571 89%95$118,967$431,200$328 Very close on everything we compare
Sewickley, PA 15143 89%417$132,674$454,900$257 larger
Hadley, MA 01035 88%71$119,259$511,000$341 pricier homes ($72K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Richmond, VT 05477 88%212$108,971$424,400$295 smaller
Manlius, NY 13104 88%222$127,933$337,100$212 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger
Longwood, FL 32779 88%1,015$121,826$480,200$249 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Cranston, RI 02921 87%46$147,204$535,800$293 pricier homes ($97K more) · larger
Freeport, ME 04032 87%203$107,326$508,400$372 pricier homes ($69K more)
Ballston Lake, NY 12019 87%136$112,420$400,400$271 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
East Greenbush, NY 12061 87%113$110,962$343,800$264 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Voorheesville, NY 12186 87%124$112,446$360,000$232 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Mound, MN 55364 87%1,104$108,725$459,400$260 larger
San Antonio, TX 78248 87%1,678$130,552$479,500$207 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · newer homes
North Easton, MA 02356 86%75$127,224$650,300$348 pricier homes ($211K more) · larger
Port Matilda, PA 16870 86%307$121,528$411,100$235 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Chalfont, PA 18914 86%173$148,824$491,300$272 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Maple Plain, MN 55359 86%1,107$129,250$537,300$248 pricier homes ($98K more) · less walkable
Winfield, IL 60190 86%822$142,612$392,800$248 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · more homeowners

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.