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 Lakehurst, NJ 08733

Lakehurst: median income $85,750, home value $248,400, $244/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Three Rivers, MA 01080 89%181$89,063$270,000$195 older homes
Akron, PA 17501 89%100$78,182$258,900$199 larger · older residents
Delaware City, DE 19706 86%74$83,681$263,000$218 more homeowners
Dover Plains, NY 12522 84%124$76,157$301,300$264 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · older residents
Ronks, PA 17572 84%97$80,804$288,800$237 pricier homes ($40K more) · more homeowners
Pittsfield, NH 03263 83%273$74,318$294,800$241 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents · newer homes
Woodville, WI 54028 83%974$85,341$269,300$211 newer homes
Danielson, CT 06239 82%177$74,267$277,500$264 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
South Glens Falls, NY 12803 82%228$82,057$231,300$229 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Walworth, WI 53184 82%760$84,413$315,100$224 pricier homes ($67K more)
Lisbon, ME 04250 81%351$84,028$257,700$200 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Canaan, CT 06018 81%148$68,917$280,200$195 pricier homes ($32K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Lisbon Falls, ME 04252 80%351$73,476$258,500$236 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Newport, MN 55055 80%1,006$71,979$378,100$245 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger
Hamilton City, CA 95951 80%2,497$70,294$330,100$285 pricier homes ($82K more) · younger residents
Franklin, NH 03235 79%273$71,775$263,600$250 larger · older residents
Willington, CT 06279 79%168$91,114$305,800$233 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · less walkable
Gordonville, PA 17529 79%94$80,050$362,100$232 pricier homes ($114K more) · larger · younger residents
Putnam, CT 06260 78%182$70,502$269,500$221 larger · older residents
Plainfield, CT 06374 78%170$71,882$248,700$194 larger · older residents
Mont Alto, PA 17237 78%172$80,903$193,600$205 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Wind Gap, PA 18091 78%76$80,464$277,600$271 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · older residents
Bally, PA 19503 78%71$77,411$234,600$252 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Bowling Green, VA 22427 78%207$81,488$315,700$214 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · less walkable
Pima, AZ 85543 78%2,020$92,011$265,000$194 larger · less walkable · 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.