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 Lincroft, NJ 07738

Lincroft: median income $189,000, home value $807,300, $470/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lynnfield, MA 01940 90%220$173,214$905,400$418 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger
Old Bethpage, NY 11804 90%46$190,469$848,500$534 pricier homes ($41K more) · older homes
Norwell, MA 02061 89%213$188,699$865,700$425 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · less walkable
Southborough, MA 01772 88%191$201,568$841,700$354 pricier homes ($34K more) · newer homes
Topsfield, MA 01983 88%229$195,718$853,400$402 pricier homes ($46K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Duxbury, MA 02332 88%213$176,583$874,600$459 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Orangeburg, NY 10962 88%50$148,500$712,300$403 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($95K less)
Clayton, CA 94517 88%2,536$168,921$1,032,100$481 pricier homes ($225K more) · larger · newer homes
North Salem, NY 10560 87%75$193,906$674,000$342 cheaper homes ($133K less) · 5 min longer commute
Tappan, NY 10983 87%49$160,170$610,900$413 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($196K less)
Glen Head, NY 11545 87%43$182,528$1,101,100$601 pricier homes ($294K more) · larger
Greenlawn, NY 11740 87%54$152,386$693,700$461 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($114K less)
Holliston, MA 01746 86%190$159,817$650,300$360 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger
Stow, MA 01775 86%198$185,809$729,600$339 cheaper homes ($78K less) · less walkable
Medway, MA 02053 86%188$173,750$617,300$337 cheaper homes ($190K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Hanover, MA 02339 86%210$189,803$755,400$385 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Littleton, MA 01460 85%204$149,722$658,300$374 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($149K less)
Norfolk, MA 02056 85%190$200,720$725,200$344 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · newer homes
Sharon, MA 02067 85%196$192,314$736,100$381 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Westwood, MA 02090 85%199$223,125$1,041,500$493 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($234K more) · larger
South Salem, NY 10590 85%70$211,734$795,600$409 older residents · less walkable
Locust Valley, NY 11560 85%47$163,750$952,700$562 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($145K more) · older homes
East Setauket, NY 11733 85%67$173,281$683,400$408 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Bayport, NY 11705 84%63$164,300$646,500$426 cheaper homes ($161K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Centerport, NY 11721 84%55$197,179$740,300$473 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older residents · older 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.