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 Elizabeth, NJ 07201

Elizabeth: median income $60,080, home value $467,500, $296/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lawrence, MA 01843 82%210$67,585$429,100$334 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Fall River, MA 02724 82%172$55,590$402,800$256 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Long Beach, CA 90813 80%2,440$54,526$585,600$508 pricier homes ($118K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20032 79%195$49,139$407,700$215 cheaper homes ($60K less) · 8 min longer commute
Lawrence, MA 01841 78%211$56,971$403,400$305 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · older homes
Los Angeles, CA 90033 77%2,434$59,652$707,200$396 pricier homes ($240K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Fall River, MA 02720 76%175$62,196$398,000$253 cheaper homes ($70K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Central Falls, RI 02863 76%168$49,285$352,100$193 cheaper homes ($115K less) · older homes
Mount Vernon, NY 10550 76%25$60,701$494,300$300 pricier homes ($27K more) · 9 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Fall River, MA 02721 75%173$52,841$406,000$228 cheaper homes ($62K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95825 75%2,486$64,602$440,200$292 cheaper homes ($27K less) · newer homes
Chelsea, MA 02150 74%203$72,179$493,500$400 pricier homes ($26K more) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Bridgeport, CT 06605 74%62$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($132K less) · more homeowners
Worcester, MA 01605 73%168$54,642$392,100$270 cheaper homes ($75K less) · more single-family homes
New Haven, CT 06519 73%79$49,619$316,700$181 cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller · older homes
Yonkers, NY 10701 73%26$64,776$370,400$306 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Las Vegas, NV 89102 73%2,221$49,843$376,300$247 cheaper homes ($91K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Fall River, MA 02723 72%175$47,633$357,800$244 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Woonsocket, RI 02895 72%166$61,059$311,000$228 cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger · more homeowners
Miami, FL 33125 72%1,085$44,979$423,100$324 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · older residents
New Bedford, MA 02744 71%183$58,675$372,700$317 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Roxbury, MA 02119 70%197$48,488$688,600$459 pricier homes ($221K more)
Miami, FL 33135 70%1,086$40,567$418,500$381 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Las Vegas, NV 89119 70%2,219$46,960$328,100$219 cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger · newer homes
Las Vegas, NV 89169 70%2,219$40,904$315,100$213 cheaper homes ($152K less) · 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.