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 Old Lyme, CT 06371

Old Lyme: median income $132,045, home value $499,400, $372/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mattapoisett, MA 02739 90%80$130,241$681,600$430 pricier homes ($182K more) · older residents
Titusville, NJ 08560 89%151$128,516$420,300$302 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
West Nyack, NY 10994 87%88$170,307$620,200$392 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($121K more) · smaller
East Sandwich, MA 02537 86%100$136,506$639,500$405 pricier homes ($140K more) · smaller · newer homes
Sandwich, MA 02563 86%98$121,455$617,800$441 pricier homes ($118K more) · newer homes
Red Hook, NY 12571 86%92$118,967$431,200$328 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Boylston, MA 01505 85%75$140,962$578,600$343 pricier homes ($79K more) · smaller
Skaneateles, NY 13152 85%237$104,211$461,800$411 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($38K less)
Marion, MA 02738 84%84$143,092$653,500$368 pricier homes ($154K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Seekonk, MA 02771 84%62$120,613$482,800$314 larger · younger residents
Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849 84%123$117,298$438,600$329 cheaper homes ($61K less) · younger residents
Tappan, NY 10983 84%88$160,170$610,900$413 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($112K more) · smaller
Contoocook, NH 03229 83%132$137,386$506,100$287 smaller · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
North Yarmouth, ME 04097 83%204$129,267$496,500$340 smaller · newer homes
Succasunna, NJ 07876 83%127$161,304$527,200$324 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($28K more) · younger residents
Oakdale, NY 11769 83%59$123,558$607,000$389 pricier homes ($108K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Centerville, MA 02632 82%104$121,317$616,700$486 pricier homes ($117K more)
New London, NH 03257 82%145$107,000$559,000$346 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
East Hanover, NJ 07936 82%113$149,583$702,800$409 pricier homes ($203K more) · younger residents
Sound Beach, NY 11789 82%43$131,528$428,500$407 cheaper homes ($71K less) · younger residents
Richboro, PA 18954 82%161$159,857$626,700$265 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($127K more) · newer homes
Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 82%473$145,882$482,600$258 larger
Littleton, CO 80121 82%1,710$142,056$707,900$311 pricier homes ($209K more) · larger
Morrison, CO 80465 82%1,721$132,292$685,300$312 pricier homes ($186K more) · larger · younger residents
Rehoboth, MA 02769 81%65$138,214$563,000$323 pricier homes ($64K more)

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.