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 Pompton Plains, NJ 07444

Pompton Plains: median income $117,959, home value $539,000, $431/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kennebunk, ME 04043 92%255$107,804$487,700$378 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 91%1,027$115,799$616,000$491 pricier homes ($77K more)
Jupiter, FL 33469 90%1,021$106,265$615,700$480 pricier homes ($77K more)
Indialantic, FL 32903 89%957$104,906$533,000$307 Very close on everything we compare
Rowley, MA 01969 87%212$132,734$667,300$375 pricier homes ($128K more) · smaller
North Kingstown, RI 02852 86%154$118,643$504,900$332 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · younger residents
Hampton, NH 03842 85%225$95,422$548,500$423 Very close on everything we compare
Valley Cottage, NY 10989 85%21$134,267$549,700$390 younger residents
Oakdale, NY 11769 85%63$123,558$607,000$389 pricier homes ($68K more) · more single-family homes
Oak Brook, IL 60523 85%710$118,194$782,100$282 pricier homes ($243K more)
Merrimac, MA 01860 84%213$123,054$553,400$329 smaller
Salisbury, MA 01952 84%220$93,361$478,700$408 cheaper homes ($60K less)
North Easton, MA 02356 84%181$127,224$650,300$348 pricier homes ($111K more) · younger residents
Westerly, RI 02891 84%132$97,110$470,000$369 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Stonington, CT 06378 84%127$135,714$593,400$407 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller · older residents
Rhinebeck, NY 12572 84%70$94,859$483,100$472 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more single-family homes
Santa Rosa, CA 95409 84%2,542$107,867$802,000$445 pricier homes ($263K more) · larger
South Easton, MA 02375 83%181$120,903$513,000$348 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents
Portsmouth, RI 02871 83%164$116,831$597,000$392 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · younger residents
Wakefield, RI 02879 83%148$112,231$564,700$445 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Freeport, ME 04032 82%293$107,326$508,400$372 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Mashpee, MA 02649 81%203$95,299$562,200$420 newer homes
Exeter, NH 03833 81%222$119,393$480,500$354 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · younger residents
Willowbrook, IL 60527 81%708$106,543$501,700$269 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · younger residents
Ipswich, MA 01938 80%214$138,750$745,400$421 pricier homes ($206K more) · 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.