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 Spotswood, NJ 08884

Spotswood: median income $104,702, home value $369,500, $370/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oxford, MA 01540 92%177$110,579$376,100$302 Very close on everything we compare
Somerset, MA 02726 91%194$111,046$419,000$345 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
North Smithfield, RI 02896 89%184$108,983$457,400$295 pricier homes ($88K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Clinton, CT 06413 88%116$124,824$380,000$315 larger
West Boylston, MA 01583 87%192$106,094$441,500$312 pricier homes ($72K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Islip, NY 11751 87%66$116,559$563,100$434 pricier homes ($194K more) · larger
Millbury, MA 01527 86%185$118,790$450,100$285 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger
Tiverton, RI 02878 86%188$106,036$411,900$306 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · older residents
Wilton, NH 03086 86%217$113,750$381,600$284 smaller
Buxton, ME 04093 85%300$100,144$356,800$332 less walkable · newer homes
Stratford, CT 06614 85%87$110,943$374,800$293 larger
Brewster, NY 10509 85%82$116,831$458,300$291 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
Islandia, NY 11749 85%70$116,313$477,400$366 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller
Feasterville Trevose, PA 19053 85%35$107,780$413,100$267 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Auburn, MA 01501 84%183$116,762$400,800$299 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Holbrook, MA 02343 84%214$115,032$464,700$406 pricier homes ($95K more) · 6 min longer commute
North Branford, CT 06471 84%107$109,388$371,200$273 6 min shorter commute
Telford, PA 18969 84%51$108,995$385,300$237 larger
Dracut, MA 01826 83%224$114,196$473,800$353 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger
Rockland, MA 02370 83%217$112,405$472,900$353 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger · younger residents
East Taunton, MA 02718 83%203$109,500$469,200$300 pricier homes ($100K more) · younger residents
Greenville, RI 02828 83%180$97,196$440,900$291 pricier homes ($71K more) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Epping, NH 03042 83%251$104,220$436,900$319 pricier homes ($67K more) · newer homes
Goshen, NY 10924 83%70$110,938$454,300$277 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Sloatsburg, NY 10974 83%54$117,596$433,300$312 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller

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.