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 Shrewsbury, NJ 07702

Shrewsbury: median income $178,958, home value $811,400, $497/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33158 89%1,077$201,597$1,026,600$599 pricier homes ($215K more)
Albertson, NY 11507 88%37$164,028$860,000$598 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · older residents
Great Neck, NY 11020 84%36$167,148$1,132,200$750 pricier homes ($321K more) · older homes
Old Bethpage, NY 11804 84%44$190,469$848,500$534 pricier homes ($37K more) · less walkable
White Plains, NY 10607 83%51$168,603$673,200$454 cheaper homes ($138K less) · larger · older homes
Glen Head, NY 11545 83%42$182,528$1,101,100$601 pricier homes ($290K more) · larger
Greenlawn, NY 11740 83%52$152,386$693,700$461 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger
Thornwood, NY 10594 82%57$163,542$683,200$506 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Locust Valley, NY 11560 82%45$163,750$952,700$562 pricier homes ($141K more) · larger · less walkable
Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 82%38$182,674$988,300$581 pricier homes ($177K more) · larger · older homes
Jericho, NY 11753 82%42$175,781$979,800$593 pricier homes ($168K more) · larger
Orangeburg, NY 10962 81%50$148,500$712,300$403 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($99K less) · less walkable
Clayton, CA 94517 81%2,539$168,921$1,032,100$481 pricier homes ($221K more) · larger · newer homes
Tappan, NY 10983 79%49$160,170$610,900$413 cheaper homes ($201K less) · less walkable
Bayville, NY 11709 79%48$149,191$710,000$454 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger
Southborough, MA 01772 78%189$201,568$841,700$354 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · less walkable
Topsfield, MA 01983 78%227$195,718$853,400$402 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
East Walpole, MA 02032 78%194$180,682$702,300$365 cheaper homes ($109K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Southport, CT 06890 78%69$218,841$1,212,500$550 higher income ($40K more) · pricier homes ($401K more)
Pleasantville, NY 10570 78%58$183,833$862,300$470 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98177 78%2,413$169,918$1,048,900$544 pricier homes ($238K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Ardsley, NY 10502 77%49$250,000+*$845,700$584 higher income ($71K more) · pricier homes ($34K more)
Hewlett, NY 11557 77%29$176,274$776,400$513 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
East Norwich, NY 11732 77%45$148,965$780,800$545 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($31K less) · more renters
Plainview, NY 11803 77%43$187,514$800,200$575 larger

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.