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 Durham, CT 06422

Durham: median income $158,857, home value $424,800, $267/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seaford, VA 23696 95%357$142,788$427,100$227 smaller
Hinckley, OH 44233 92%470$136,915$443,500$263 Very close on everything we compare
Auburn, NH 03032 89%126$153,253$600,300$294 pricier homes ($176K more)
Van Meter, IA 50261 89%1,097$155,278$374,100$294 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · younger residents
Sutton, MA 01590 88%66$147,015$523,100$276 pricier homes ($98K more) · 6 min longer commute
Contoocook, NH 03229 88%130$137,386$506,100$287 pricier homes ($81K more)
Big Bend, WI 53103 88%800$137,083$397,700$259 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Southampton, MA 01073 87%53$123,125$452,300$303 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($28K more)
Berkley, MA 02779 87%87$144,205$511,200$328 pricier homes ($86K more)
Succasunna, NJ 07876 87%111$161,304$527,200$324 pricier homes ($102K more) · 7 min longer commute
Mantorville, MN 55955 87%1,031$132,524$405,700$240 lower income ($26K less) · smaller
Mont Vernon, NH 03057 86%112$156,250$518,400$275 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Monroeville, NJ 08343 86%181$141,842$344,400$221 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Averill Park, NY 12018 86%92$126,620$345,200$235 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($80K less)
Perkiomenville, PA 18074 86%167$130,462$433,400$212 lower income ($28K less) · 6 min longer commute
Pewee Valley, KY 40056 86%712$134,115$339,900$207 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 86%446$147,383$439,300$234 larger
Assonet, MA 02702 85%87$153,038$516,100$293 pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Rehoboth, MA 02769 85%79$138,214$563,000$323 pricier homes ($138K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Litchfield, NH 03052 85%114$162,036$485,000$337 pricier homes ($60K more) · 6 min longer commute
Bow, NH 03304 85%130$172,857$506,500$279 pricier homes ($82K more)
North Yarmouth, ME 04097 85%207$129,267$496,500$340 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller
Monclova, OH 43542 85%573$148,657$402,000$217 smaller · newer homes
Maple Plain, MN 55359 85%1,082$129,250$537,300$248 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($113K more)
Holden, MA 01520 84%75$148,125$478,300$296 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger

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.