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 Taftville, CT 06380

Taftville: median income $63,452, home value $194,300, $182/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Schenectady, NY 12308 73%129$63,434$211,900$159 larger · more walkable
Reading, PA 19611 73%220$63,331$176,200$190 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Scranton, PA 18510 72%186$53,235$181,600$117 larger · 7 min shorter commute
New York Mills, NY 13417 69%197$59,453$205,500$169 older residents · more homeowners · more walkable
Columbus, GA 31901 68%948$51,424$226,500$132 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · older residents
Muskegon, MI 49440 68%733$46,808$176,400$193 smaller · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Gilbertville, MA 01031 67%54$60,517$245,600$120 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · older residents
Dearborn, MI 48120 66%574$66,006$224,000$113 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · newer homes
Troy, NY 12183 65%117$59,406$138,300$110 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more walkable
Glens Falls, NY 12801 65%145$67,577$212,500$181 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Troy, NY 12182 64%118$56,984$212,600$170 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Scranton, PA 18509 63%186$51,062$183,700$129 larger · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Kansas City, KS 66103 63%1,198$52,479$148,400$199 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Indian Orchard, MA 01151 62%47$55,324$237,200$219 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · older residents
Worcester, MA 01607 62%48$78,727$377,200$253 pricier homes ($183K more) · larger · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45223 61%678$49,312$210,100$176 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Watervliet, NY 12189 60%117$65,276$220,600$193 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older residents
Albany, NY 12202 60%115$52,868$166,000$118 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · more walkable
Buffalo, NY 14214 60%360$58,228$240,800$156 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Buffalo, NY 14213 59%362$53,870$211,200$116 larger · more walkable
Prospect Park, PA 19076 59%206$64,231$244,000$229 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · more homeowners
Philmont, NY 12565 58%95$56,563$225,000— pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · older residents
Detroit, MI 48202 58%569$43,627$186,500$123 larger · more walkable
Duluth, MN 55806 58%1,054$42,833$161,400$150 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Albany, NY 12204 57%116$74,841$244,800$211 pricier homes ($51K 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.