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 Watchung, NJ 07069

Watchung: median income $171,705, home value $883,300, $405/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Orangeburg, NY 10962 92%38$148,500$712,300$403 cheaper homes ($171K less)
Duxbury, MA 02332 91%217$176,583$874,600$459 larger
Littleton, MA 01460 89%202$149,722$658,300$374 cheaper homes ($225K less) · larger · younger residents
Lynnfield, MA 01940 89%220$173,214$905,400$418 larger · younger residents
Holliston, MA 01746 88%190$159,817$650,300$360 cheaper homes ($233K less) · larger
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 88%76$150,505$680,200$382 cheaper homes ($203K less)
Stow, MA 01775 87%196$185,809$729,600$339 cheaper homes ($154K less)
Georgetown, MA 01833 87%230$153,750$653,500$360 cheaper homes ($230K less) · younger residents
Millis, MA 02054 87%192$155,996$603,500$369 cheaper homes ($280K less)
Wrentham, MA 02093 87%189$151,676$654,900$355 cheaper homes ($228K less) · larger
Hanover, MA 02339 87%213$189,803$755,400$385 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger · younger residents
Hampton Falls, NH 03844 87%242$165,509$764,900$354 cheaper homes ($118K less) · smaller
Bayville, NY 11709 87%50$149,191$710,000$454 cheaper homes ($173K less)
North Reading, MA 01864 86%219$147,768$710,500$425 cheaper homes ($173K less) · larger · younger residents
Walpole, MA 02081 86%196$156,250$687,500$396 cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger · younger residents
East Setauket, NY 11733 86%73$173,281$683,400$408 cheaper homes ($200K less) · larger
Greenlawn, NY 11740 86%59$152,386$693,700$461 cheaper homes ($190K less) · larger
Saint James, NY 11780 86%70$144,577$723,200$466 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($160K less) · larger
Fall City, WA 98024 86%2,364$160,641$1,107,100$473 pricier homes ($224K more) · smaller
Northborough, MA 01532 85%186$153,199$620,000$331 cheaper homes ($263K less) · larger
Southborough, MA 01772 85%190$201,568$841,700$354 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($42K less)
Ridgefield, CT 06877 85%68$179,219$836,200$399 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Redding, CT 06896 85%71$186,060$706,300$335 cheaper homes ($177K less)
South Salem, NY 10590 85%64$211,734$795,600$409 higher income ($40K more) · cheaper homes ($88K less)
Medway, MA 02053 84%189$173,750$617,300$337 cheaper homes ($266K less) · larger · younger 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.