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 Ivoryton, CT 06442

Ivoryton: median income $104,358, home value $468,200, $297/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Bennington, VT 05257 82%117$94,375$307,500$258 cheaper homes ($161K less) · less walkable
East Greenbush, NY 12061 81%108$110,962$343,800$264 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger · less walkable
Steilacoom, WA 98388 80%2,471$100,851$655,000$377 pricier homes ($187K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Exeter, RI 02822 79%46$112,813$520,100$345 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · less walkable
Philomath, OR 97370 79%2,545$88,091$463,200$279 larger · less walkable
Burlington, VT 05408 78%223$95,018$400,600$335 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · older residents
Middlebury, VT 05753 78%187$91,659$416,900$258 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Mc Farland, WI 53558 78%869$107,609$405,300$253 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · less walkable
Willow Springs, IL 60480 78%798$98,917$363,800$237 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Point Arena, CA 95468 78%2,668$115,955$489,900— less walkable
West Boylston, MA 01583 77%78$106,094$441,500$312 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · older residents
Neptune Beach, FL 32266 77%911$119,294$670,900$391 pricier homes ($203K more) · larger
Port Monmouth, NJ 07758 76%108$115,298$530,000$401 pricier homes ($62K more) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Cross Plains, WI 53528 76%887$106,823$436,100$232 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · less walkable
West Creek, NJ 08092 75%151$110,509$496,900$322 pricier homes ($29K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Woodstown, NJ 08098 75%192$110,913$326,300$229 cheaper homes ($142K less) · larger · less walkable
Middlesex, NJ 08846 75%120$105,000$446,400$378 larger · older homes
Cornwall, NY 12518 75%83$101,208$432,000$289 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · less walkable
Allentown, PA 18106 75%173$92,813$412,200$233 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · older residents
Valparaiso, FL 32580 75%1,083$91,645$394,700$257 cheaper homes ($74K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Prairie Du Sac, WI 53578 75%893$105,610$347,000$226 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger · less walkable
Smithfield, RI 02917 74%61$110,938$451,800$281 larger · less walkable
Vergennes, VT 05491 74%197$87,917$337,400$286 cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger · older residents
East Montpelier, VT 05651 74%203$103,393$393,500$201 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Waterbury, VT 05676 74%208$92,773$380,800$269 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · less walkable

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.