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 Belleville, NJ 07109

Belleville: median income $90,438, home value $420,800, $372/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Haverhill, MA 01830 92%210$78,571$467,000$311 pricier homes ($46K more)
Hyde Park, MA 02136 91%187$96,737$578,400$426 pricier homes ($158K more)
Yonkers, NY 10704 91%18$106,786$526,800$370 pricier homes ($106K more)
Hempstead, NY 11550 89%29$92,677$465,100$460 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Peekskill, NY 10566 88%36$85,954$395,600$330 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60630 86%709$98,860$384,500$282 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Lowell, MA 01852 85%195$80,906$424,300$328 more renters
Yonkers, NY 10703 85%18$89,773$527,600$341 pricier homes ($107K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Chicago, IL 60656 85%714$95,766$348,700$275 cheaper homes ($72K less) · newer homes
Elmwood Park, IL 60707 85%712$84,799$332,000$234 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Everett, WA 98201 84%2,383$74,554$499,800$384 pricier homes ($79K more)
Lowell, MA 01851 83%193$92,401$467,000$324 pricier homes ($46K more) · younger residents · more renters
Brockton, MA 02301 83%185$74,214$449,400$321 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · younger residents
Ossining, NY 10562 83%30$115,697$498,700$392 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($78K more) · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60641 83%708$83,758$391,100$284 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · younger residents
Worcester, MA 01602 82%158$91,764$417,300$291 6 min shorter commute
Lynn, MA 01905 82%201$84,333$499,200$377 pricier homes ($78K more) · younger residents
Stratford, CT 06615 82%60$81,534$364,700$306 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Temple Hills, MD 20748 82%201$83,162$384,300$237 cheaper homes ($37K less) · newer homes
New Bedford, MA 02745 81%179$74,034$368,600$316 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06606 81%57$73,372$289,000$271 cheaper homes ($132K less)
Hyattsville, MD 20782 81%195$90,205$454,700$256 pricier homes ($34K more) · younger residents · more renters
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 81%1,066$75,361$469,700$375 pricier homes ($49K more) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
East Weymouth, MA 02189 80%194$94,541$474,800$437 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Taunton, MA 02780 80%176$74,471$413,900$326 less walkable · newer homes

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.