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 Morris Plains, NJ 07950

Morris Plains: median income $153,762, home value $589,900, $398/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ambler, PA 19002 94%60$143,600$602,100$292 Very close on everything we compare
East Greenwich, RI 02818 92%166$139,217$613,500$342 Very close on everything we compare
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 91%174$139,302$592,300$353 larger
Canton, MA 02021 91%196$143,381$710,600$425 pricier homes ($121K more) · 6 min longer commute
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 91%66$147,418$537,400$279 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Alexandria, VA 22310 91%200$166,061$659,700$355 pricier homes ($70K more)
Natick, MA 01760 90%190$138,563$821,300$454 pricier homes ($231K more) · larger
Burlington, MA 01803 90%205$146,436$740,600$441 pricier homes ($151K more)
North Andover, MA 01845 89%215$140,670$732,900$367 pricier homes ($143K more) · larger · younger residents
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 89%75$150,505$680,200$382 pricier homes ($90K more) · smaller
Media, PA 19063 89%80$127,368$548,900$303 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Newtown Square, PA 19073 89%77$134,839$610,300$279 Very close on everything we compare
Blue Bell, PA 19422 89%63$158,288$611,900$274 newer homes
Walpole, MA 02081 88%190$156,250$687,500$396 pricier homes ($98K more)
Derwood, MD 20855 88%184$149,110$640,300$297 pricier homes ($50K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Springfield, VA 22152 88%204$165,906$648,200$327 pricier homes ($58K more) · younger residents
Northbrook, IL 60062 88%697$143,323$632,500$312 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · older residents
Mount Kisco, NY 10549 87%46$133,988$668,000$425 pricier homes ($78K more) · 5 min longer commute
Wayne, PA 19087 87%72$171,179$748,200$364 pricier homes ($158K more) · larger
Annapolis, MD 21403 87%169$123,329$582,500$366 lower income ($30K less) · larger
Elmhurst, IL 60126 87%701$147,566$540,300$360 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Downers Grove, IL 60515 87%705$123,197$461,200$308 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($129K less)
Framingham, MA 01701 86%187$137,094$644,300$395 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Wakefield, MA 01880 86%210$134,306$723,500$468 pricier homes ($134K more) · older homes
Ipswich, MA 01938 86%226$138,750$745,400$421 pricier homes ($156K more) · smaller · less walkable

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.