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.

Reset

Towns most like Ringwood, NJ 07456

Ringwood: median income $152,414, home value $449,800, $302/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bethany, CT 06524 93%70$166,236$418,000$257 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Paxton, MA 01612 91%147$134,083$472,300$295 smaller
Orange, CT 06477 90%66$142,325$491,500$290 pricier homes ($42K more)
Sandy Hook, CT 06482 90%57$159,828$499,200$285 pricier homes ($49K more) · newer homes
Monroe, CT 06468 89%57$157,250$503,200$275 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · newer homes
Shoreham, NY 11786 89%72$163,466$604,700$382 pricier homes ($155K more) · smaller
Lancaster, MA 01523 88%163$134,833$519,100$288 pricier homes ($69K more)
Holden, MA 01520 87%152$148,125$478,300$296 pricier homes ($29K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Newtown, CT 06470 87%54$153,238$577,800$289 pricier homes ($128K more)
Tappan, NY 10983 87%17$160,170$610,900$413 pricier homes ($161K more) · smaller
Sound Beach, NY 11789 87%68$131,528$428,500$407 smaller
West Bloomfield, MI 48324 87%480$142,100$442,300$213 newer homes
Burlington, CT 06013 86%82$165,120$418,700$252 cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
Marlborough, CT 06447 86%101$142,105$379,100$227 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · newer homes
Nesconset, NY 11767 86%61$152,985$637,900$407 pricier homes ($188K more)
Assonet, MA 02702 85%173$153,038$516,100$293 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · newer homes
Rehoboth, MA 02769 85%164$138,214$563,000$323 pricier homes ($113K more) · newer homes
Trumbull, CT 06611 85%56$163,073$547,300$317 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger
Wading River, NY 11792 85%75$146,174$597,300$396 pricier homes ($148K more) · newer homes
Bowie, MD 20715 85%196$143,732$452,600$257 larger · more walkable
Wilbraham, MA 01095 84%118$122,330$415,000$267 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($35K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Sutton, MA 01590 84%148$147,015$523,100$276 pricier homes ($73K more) · newer homes
Pembroke, MA 02359 84%191$146,285$586,500$392 pricier homes ($137K more) · larger
Amherst, NH 03031 84%183$153,125$537,300$289 pricier homes ($88K more) · newer homes
Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567 84%23$144,194$566,700$352 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute

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.