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 Mahwah, NJ 07430

Mahwah: median income $131,327, home value $606,000, $427/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Annapolis, MD 21403 89%191$123,329$582,500$366 more renters
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 88%1,042$125,497$684,900$369 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
North Wales, PA 19454 87%82$118,177$457,900$265 cheaper homes ($148K less)
Annapolis, MD 21401 87%191$123,381$601,400$331 larger · more renters
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 87%1,093$117,373$573,800$350 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents
Boca Raton, FL 33496 87%1,070$114,885$708,300$473 pricier homes ($102K more)
Exeter, NH 03833 86%212$119,393$480,500$354 cheaper homes ($126K less) · less walkable
Newtown, PA 18940 86%69$157,414$655,000$316 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($49K more)
Newtown Square, PA 19073 86%99$134,839$610,300$279 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 86%849$117,724$582,400$386 Very close on everything we compare
Doylestown, PA 18901 85%74$118,256$576,800$306 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more renters
Warrington, PA 18976 85%76$123,285$536,200$290 cheaper homes ($70K less) · more single-family homes
Glen Mills, PA 19342 85%107$132,688$594,000$276 Very close on everything we compare
Northbrook, IL 60062 85%709$143,323$632,500$312 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Nanuet, NY 10954 84%9$116,332$533,000$383 cheaper homes ($73K less) · more renters
Melville, NY 11747 84%45$159,540$757,800$486 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($152K more) · 5 min longer commute
Media, PA 19063 84%103$127,368$548,900$303 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older homes
West Chester, PA 19380 84%106$122,899$564,400$278 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Willowbrook, IL 60527 84%713$106,543$501,700$269 cheaper homes ($104K less)
East Greenwich, RI 02818 82%146$139,217$613,500$342 more single-family homes
Ambler, PA 19002 82%82$143,600$602,100$292 Very close on everything we compare
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 82%1,037$115,799$616,000$491 smaller · less walkable
Mukilteo, WA 98275 82%2,378$132,861$884,900$418 pricier homes ($279K more) · younger residents
Canton, MA 02021 81%174$143,381$710,600$425 pricier homes ($105K more) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Franklin, MA 02038 81%160$145,773$611,700$343 younger residents · more single-family 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.