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 Swedesboro, NJ 08085

Swedesboro: median income $134,762, home value $384,500, $225/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rosemount, MN 55068 96%970$127,798$395,900$198 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367 96%828$137,648$409,100$183 Very close on everything we compare
Spanish Fort, AL 36527 94%943$120,189$389,000$186 Very close on everything we compare
Savage, MN 55378 94%981$124,871$430,900$189 pricier homes ($46K more)
Hugo, MN 55038 93%970$130,931$422,800$201 pricier homes ($38K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55449 93%981$131,832$438,300$195 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Avon, OH 44011 92%370$135,915$395,900$219 Very close on everything we compare
Cottage Grove, WI 53527 92%753$133,883$444,700$238 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Rogers, MN 55374 92%1,000$144,714$462,000$193 pricier homes ($78K more)
Waconia, MN 55387 92%1,003$114,511$440,300$215 pricier homes ($56K more)
O Fallon, MO 63368 92%825$124,297$349,200$177 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Sachse, TX 75048 92%1,269$131,087$407,200$181 Very close on everything we compare
Middletown, DE 19709 91%26$132,956$470,900$205 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger
Pickerington, OH 43147 91%394$126,534$348,300$185 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Maineville, OH 45039 91%475$108,794$327,200$196 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($57K less)
Noblesville, IN 46062 91%568$120,100$382,500$175 larger
Saint Michael, MN 55376 91%1,004$131,266$389,200$185 Very close on everything we compare
Bartlett, IL 60103 91%689$133,793$379,000$232 larger
South Elgin, IL 60177 91%694$126,144$340,000$219 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Eureka, MO 63025 91%823$125,676$391,500$181 Very close on everything we compare
Lees Summit, MO 64064 91%1,016$117,674$389,000$184 older residents
Bel Air, MD 21015 90%54$137,281$443,400$211 pricier homes ($59K more)
Bogart, GA 30622 90%604$133,563$397,700$221 smaller
Sunbury, OH 43074 90%399$119,296$426,100$205 pricier homes ($42K more)
Algonquin, IL 60102 90%696$132,949$349,900$206 cheaper homes ($35K less)

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.