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 Hawthorne, NJ 07506

Hawthorne: median income $110,237, home value $533,700, $383/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bristol, RI 02809 92%158$97,764$485,000$387 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Tacoma, WA 98406 91%2,398$104,264$638,400$347 pricier homes ($105K more)
Stoneham, MA 02180 89%190$113,964$671,900$437 pricier homes ($138K more)
Worcester, MA 01606 88%154$92,105$370,800$317 cheaper homes ($163K less)
Danvers, MA 01923 87%200$125,395$644,200$428 pricier homes ($111K more)
Chicago, IL 60631 87%710$115,000$436,400$280 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Worcester, MA 01602 86%150$91,764$417,300$291 cheaper homes ($116K less)
Rumford, RI 02916 86%158$95,263$404,100$273 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller
Norwalk, CT 06855 86%41$106,439$511,200$459 smaller
Stamford, CT 06907 86%35$106,379$590,000$421 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller · younger residents
La Grange Park, IL 60526 86%713$120,308$439,800$308 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Seattle, WA 98166 86%2,389$114,969$824,400$420 pricier homes ($291K more)
Amesbury, MA 01913 85%211$103,554$519,300$385 newer homes
Milford, CT 06460 85%60$104,360$412,600$347 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger · older residents
Norwalk, CT 06851 85%41$111,341$587,400$407 pricier homes ($54K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Orlando, FL 32804 85%948$113,231$561,000$351 pricier homes ($27K more)
Beverly, MA 01915 84%202$104,918$649,700$475 pricier homes ($116K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Dedham, MA 02026 84%178$128,955$661,800$448 pricier homes ($128K more)
White Plains, NY 10603 84%21$121,026$503,000$424 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Hatboro, PA 19040 84%73$114,293$384,900$285 cheaper homes ($149K less)
Portland, OR 97218 84%2,421$88,924$496,600$316 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98146 84%2,389$102,520$679,500$451 pricier homes ($146K more) · newer homes
Tacoma, WA 98407 84%2,398$110,288$656,600$414 pricier homes ($123K more) · newer homes
Waltham, MA 02451 83%180$122,335$753,000$487 pricier homes ($219K more) · newer homes
Middletown, RI 02842 83%155$101,948$563,300$392 pricier homes ($30K more) · 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.