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 Hillburn, NY 10931

Hillburn: median income $83,365, home value $487,000, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Worcester, MA 01607 67%145$78,727$377,200$253 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Loleta, CA 95551 66%2,578$64,519$558,100$271 pricier homes ($71K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
South Hackensack, NJ 07606 63%19$84,527$546,500$484 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · older residents
Savage, MD 20763 62%196$76,842$419,200$234 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · newer homes
Bremerton, WA 98337 62%2,396$68,561$417,700$268 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · more walkable
Three Rivers, MA 01080 60%119$89,063$270,000$195 cheaper homes ($217K less) · larger · older residents
Walnut Grove, CA 95690 60%2,496$90,104$682,200$379 pricier homes ($195K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Lowell, MA 01850 57%181$69,780$390,800$313 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger · more walkable
Norwalk, CT 06855 57%40$106,439$511,200$459 larger · older residents · newer homes
Canaan, CT 06018 56%76$68,917$280,200$195 cheaper homes ($207K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Gilbertville, MA 01031 55%132$60,517$245,600$120 cheaper homes ($241K less) · less walkable
Central Village, CT 06332 55%124$61,840$235,300$107 cheaper homes ($252K less) · less walkable
Paterson, NJ 07502 55%14$76,790$375,300$381 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · newer homes
Bound Brook, NJ 08805 55%43$93,341$417,800$331 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · older residents
South Bound Brook, NJ 08880 55%44$112,961$359,000$443 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger
Bingham Canyon, UT 84006 54%1,967$83,000$397,300$227 cheaper homes ($90K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Taftville, CT 06380 53%114$63,452$194,300$182 cheaper homes ($293K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Vauxhall, NJ 07088 53%29$93,240$346,000$295 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger · older residents
Lakehurst, NJ 08733 53%76$85,750$248,400$244 cheaper homes ($239K less) · larger · more homeowners
Prospect Park, PA 19076 53%104$64,231$244,000$229 cheaper homes ($243K less) · larger · more walkable
Stamford, CT 06906 52%34$93,675$596,800$402 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger · older residents
Plainfield, NJ 07063 52%39$93,304$392,500$383 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Paterson, NJ 07504 52%15$76,659$381,600$294 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 52%20$100,718$496,700$404 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Phoenix, AZ 85007 52%2,133$63,616$480,600$340 larger · more 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.