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 Easton, CT 06612

Easton: median income $222,604, home value $783,100, $323/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
South Salem, NY 10590 95%13$211,734$795,600$409 Very close on everything we compare
Harvard, MA 01451 94%123$214,792$856,200$349 pricier homes ($73K more)
Chester, NJ 07930 94%79$240,954$771,200$361 Very close on everything we compare
Boxford, MA 01921 91%153$200,672$904,200$357 pricier homes ($121K more)
Highland, MD 20777 91%241$226,146$861,900$282 pricier homes ($79K more) · smaller
Brookeville, MD 20833 91%245$204,375$797,100$284 Very close on everything we compare
Towaco, NJ 07082 90%59$205,023$702,900$410 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Califon, NJ 07830 89%88$180,852$656,400$297 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($127K less) · older residents
Pittstown, NJ 08867 89%98$204,583$601,600$276 cheaper homes ($182K less)
Southborough, MA 01772 88%116$201,568$841,700$354 pricier homes ($59K more)
Stow, MA 01775 88%122$185,809$729,600$339 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($54K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Millington, NJ 07946 88%76$208,587$801,700$417 smaller
Medfield, MA 02052 87%121$235,800$911,100$416 pricier homes ($128K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Norwell, MA 02061 87%142$188,699$865,700$425 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($83K more) · younger residents
Phoenix, MD 21131 87%212$197,619$686,000$226 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Bolton, MA 01740 86%119$205,449$796,000$309 newer homes
Sherborn, MA 01770 86%119$250,000+*$1,026,800$411 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($244K more) · smaller
Topsfield, MA 01983 86%154$195,718$853,400$402 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($70K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Warren, NJ 07059 86%77$212,479$921,500$440 pricier homes ($138K more) · larger
Colts Neck, NJ 07722 86%81$198,994$917,200$474 pricier homes ($134K more)
Mendham, NJ 07945 86%76$250,000+*$931,100$389 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($148K more) · 7 min longer commute
Martinsville, NJ 08836 86%80$229,726$743,700$376 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · younger residents
Norfolk, MA 02056 85%117$200,720$725,200$344 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677 85%43$213,981$946,400$468 pricier homes ($163K more)
Kendall Park, NJ 08824 85%88$174,776$628,000$360 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($155K less) · larger

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or 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.