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 Martinsville, NJ 08836

Martinsville: median income $229,726, home value $743,700, $376/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Harvard, MA 01451 91%202$214,792$856,200$349 pricier homes ($113K more)
South Walpole, MA 02071 87%199$213,885$651,800$374 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller · younger residents
Easton, CT 06612 86%80$222,604$783,100$323 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · older residents
Sherborn, MA 01770 85%200$250,000+*$1,026,800$411 pricier homes ($283K more)
Topsfield, MA 01983 85%234$195,718$853,400$402 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($110K more) · larger
Norwell, MA 02061 85%222$188,699$865,700$425 lower income ($41K less) · pricier homes ($122K more) · larger
Highland, MD 20777 84%161$226,146$861,900$282 pricier homes ($118K more) · older residents · newer homes
South Salem, NY 10590 83%70$211,734$795,600$409 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · older residents
Bolton, MA 01740 81%198$205,449$796,000$309 pricier homes ($52K more) · newer homes
Old Bethpage, NY 11804 81%59$190,469$848,500$534 lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($105K more)
Brookeville, MD 20833 81%165$204,375$797,100$284 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Dunstable, MA 01827 80%213$208,512$674,000$306 cheaper homes ($70K less) · newer homes
Glenwood, MD 21738 80%159$250,000+*$914,300$268 pricier homes ($171K more) · newer homes
Medfield, MA 02052 79%201$235,800$911,100$416 pricier homes ($167K more) · larger · more renters
Thornton, PA 19373 79%70$192,708$755,800$277 lower income ($37K less) · smaller · newer homes
Carlisle, MA 01741 78%213$250,000+*$1,103,900$411 pricier homes ($360K more) · older residents
Norfolk, MA 02056 78%198$200,720$725,200$344 lower income ($29K less) · larger · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22308 78%185$212,545$914,400$420 pricier homes ($171K more) · larger · more walkable
Western Springs, IL 60558 78%698$230,255$739,400$373 larger · more walkable
Southborough, MA 01772 77%196$201,568$841,700$354 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($98K more) · larger
Stow, MA 01775 77%202$185,809$729,600$339 lower income ($44K less) · larger · older residents
Dover, MA 02030 77%204$250,000+*$1,340,300$464 pricier homes ($597K more) · larger · older residents
West Simsbury, CT 06092 76%125$204,458$486,900$254 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($257K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Wilton, CT 06897 76%72$242,199$928,800$449 pricier homes ($185K more) · larger · older residents
North Salem, NY 10560 76%72$193,906$674,000$342 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($70K less) · 8 min longer commute

* 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.