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 Union, NJ 07083

Union: median income $121,887, home value $455,300, $392/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Braintree, MA 02184 91%199$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($202K more)
Freeport, NY 11520 89%36$121,748$506,100$406 pricier homes ($51K more) · 5 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60631 89%707$115,000$436,400$280 smaller
West Babylon, NY 11704 88%48$129,195$527,500$459 pricier homes ($72K more)
Silver Spring, MD 20902 88%186$114,486$551,200$316 pricier homes ($96K more)
Westbury, NY 11590 87%37$152,960$633,800$516 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($179K more)
Methuen, MA 01844 86%212$113,212$499,800$341 pricier homes ($45K more) · newer homes
Randolph, MA 02368 86%195$109,665$496,800$346 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Farmingdale, NY 11735 86%44$139,443$591,500$501 pricier homes ($136K more) · smaller
Hatboro, PA 19040 86%57$114,293$384,900$285 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Saugus, MA 01906 85%208$101,539$603,400$393 pricier homes ($148K more) · smaller
Amityville, NY 11701 84%45$117,033$499,500$442 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · newer homes
Silver Spring, MD 20901 84%186$131,386$589,800$337 pricier homes ($135K more) · smaller
Danvers, MA 01923 83%215$125,395$644,200$428 pricier homes ($189K more) · smaller · less walkable
Milford, CT 06460 83%73$104,360$412,600$347 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · older residents
Skokie, IL 60076 83%704$113,818$396,200$278 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Seattle, WA 98146 83%2,393$102,520$679,500$451 pricier homes ($224K more) · smaller
Lynn, MA 01904 82%211$99,614$560,500$391 pricier homes ($105K more) · smaller
Stoughton, MA 02072 82%191$104,794$523,800$335 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller · less walkable
Yonkers, NY 10710 82%29$108,845$560,000$392 pricier homes ($105K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Mount Prospect, IL 60056 82%714$101,922$397,200$272 cheaper homes ($58K less) · newer homes
Portland, OR 97206 82%2,424$98,548$498,300$338 pricier homes ($43K more)
Seattle, WA 98178 82%2,387$99,505$660,400$367 pricier homes ($205K more) · smaller
Dedham, MA 02026 81%193$128,955$661,800$448 pricier homes ($207K more) · smaller
Copiague, NY 11726 81%46$128,425$481,500$468 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller

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.