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 Gales Ferry, CT 06335

Gales Ferry: median income $118,116, home value $322,400, $265/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Le Claire, IA 52753 95%945$103,813$328,700$215 Very close on everything we compare
Burnt Hills, NY 12027 91%140$120,000$344,100$276 Very close on everything we compare
Elma, NY 14059 90%350$113,555$346,500$252 older residents
Mount Vernon, IA 52314 90%998$109,244$265,100$177 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Cross Plains, WI 53528 90%904$106,823$436,100$232 pricier homes ($114K more)
Deerfield, WI 53531 90%876$105,000$353,300$219 pricier homes ($31K more)
Voorheesville, NY 12186 89%128$112,446$360,000$232 pricier homes ($38K more) · older residents
Kindred, ND 58051 89%1,284$107,396$331,100$241 smaller
Bradford, RI 02808 88%17$106,681$388,300$328 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Nassau, NY 12123 88%110$108,878$297,000$235 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older residents
Fairview, PA 16415 88%423$108,214$310,600$200 larger
Hampden, ME 04444 87%280$106,554$293,000$200 cheaper homes ($29K less) · newer homes
Woodstown, NJ 08098 87%211$110,913$326,300$229 larger · older residents
Altamont, NY 12009 87%133$120,101$342,900$247 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Boiling Springs, PA 17007 87%279$117,130$385,600$185 pricier homes ($63K more) · older residents · newer homes
Arlington, VT 05250 86%127$96,250$300,700$267 smaller
Wynantskill, NY 12198 86%119$113,083$285,100$237 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents
Schnecksville, PA 18078 86%192$120,857$385,400$205 pricier homes ($63K more) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Whitehouse, OH 43571 86%608$108,143$296,600$204 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents
Bellbrook, OH 45305 86%642$123,045$329,500$180 larger · newer homes
Dell Rapids, SD 57022 86%1,260$100,656$325,200$192 newer homes
East Longmeadow, MA 01028 85%50$106,424$379,200$259 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · older residents
West Bridgewater, MA 02379 85%68$123,406$503,800$358 pricier homes ($181K more)
Plainfield, NH 03781 85%147$109,659$426,400$270 pricier homes ($104K more) · smaller
South Berwick, ME 03908 85%141$98,289$425,700$274 pricier homes ($103K more) · 5 min longer commute

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.