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 Lincoln Park, NJ 07035

Lincoln Park: median income $123,234, home value $445,800, $371/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Merrimac, MA 01860 91%215$123,054$553,400$329 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller
South Easton, MA 02375 91%182$120,903$513,000$348 pricier homes ($67K more)
North Chelmsford, MA 01863 90%191$144,875$491,600$360 pricier homes ($46K more) · younger residents
Plainville, MA 02762 90%171$104,106$476,000$337 pricier homes ($30K more)
Hudson, MA 01749 89%174$103,400$496,800$357 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · younger residents
Nanuet, NY 10954 89%19$116,332$533,000$383 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger
North Attleboro, MA 02760 88%170$112,027$478,700$330 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · younger residents
Amesbury, MA 01913 87%219$103,554$519,300$385 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger
North Kingstown, RI 02852 87%154$118,643$504,900$332 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Haverhill, MA 01835 86%208$113,578$468,800$311 younger residents
Stoughton, MA 02072 86%185$104,794$523,800$335 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger
Warrington, PA 18976 86%64$123,285$536,200$290 pricier homes ($90K more) · larger · newer homes
Darien, IL 60561 86%711$112,549$404,300$246 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Salisbury, MA 01952 85%222$93,361$478,700$408 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($33K more)
Bethel, CT 06801 85%57$116,541$434,600$296 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Brewster, NY 10509 85%50$116,831$458,300$291 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Langhorne, PA 19047 85%60$109,530$467,000$285 larger
Dracut, MA 01826 84%196$114,196$473,800$353 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · younger residents
North Billerica, MA 01862 84%193$138,571$586,200$367 pricier homes ($140K more) · younger residents
Tewksbury, MA 01876 84%197$130,204$577,000$382 pricier homes ($131K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Salem, NH 03079 84%204$110,490$473,300$340 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · less walkable
Exeter, NH 03833 84%223$119,393$480,500$354 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Islip, NY 11751 84%58$116,559$563,100$434 pricier homes ($117K more) · more single-family homes
Telford, PA 18969 84%69$108,995$385,300$237 cheaper homes ($61K less)
North Wales, PA 19454 84%70$118,177$457,900$265 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.