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 Jackson Heights, NY 11372

Jackson Heights: median income $78,606, home value $469,400, $528/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jersey City, NJ 07307 83%9$83,297$582,600$567 pricier homes ($113K more) · smaller · younger residents
Bayonne, NJ 07002 81%14$83,887$460,100$354 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Dorchester Center, MA 02124 80%180$81,923$650,700$418 pricier homes ($181K more) · younger residents
North Bergen, NJ 07047 80%8$78,911$473,500$425 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes · newer homes
Jersey City, NJ 07305 77%11$76,527$450,800$353 younger residents · newer homes
Dorchester, MA 02122 76%180$86,150$669,900$471 pricier homes ($201K more) · smaller · younger residents
West New York, NJ 07093 76%7$73,174$431,500$445 cheaper homes ($38K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Jersey City, NJ 07304 76%10$70,986$537,200$429 pricier homes ($68K more) · younger residents · more renters
Boston, MA 02128 73%185$90,106$668,000$646 pricier homes ($199K more) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Dorchester, MA 02125 72%180$82,953$657,100$553 pricier homes ($188K more) · smaller · younger residents
Mattapan, MA 02126 72%179$65,709$542,700$400 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller · younger residents
Everett, MA 02149 72%186$85,218$610,000$375 pricier homes ($141K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Jersey City, NJ 07306 72%10$74,953$516,000$478 pricier homes ($47K more) · younger residents · more renters
Chelsea, MA 02150 71%186$72,179$493,500$400 smaller · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Kearny, NJ 07032 70%14$79,154$459,400$364 smaller · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Union City, NJ 07087 70%8$64,310$471,600$453 younger residents · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Miami Beach, FL 33141 70%1,091$68,738$435,000$405 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Malden, MA 02148 69%186$100,606$633,500$451 pricier homes ($164K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60625 69%721$85,703$401,900$333 cheaper homes ($68K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60640 68%719$73,254$370,300$353 cheaper homes ($99K less) · younger residents
Revere, MA 02151 65%188$86,969$597,400$421 pricier homes ($128K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010 65%7$93,452$588,200$440 pricier homes ($119K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Garfield, NJ 07026 64%15$79,700$475,500$381 smaller · 12 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60608 64%719$73,366$358,600$300 cheaper homes ($111K less) · younger residents · 10 min shorter commute
Lynn, MA 01902 63%193$67,046$478,000$348 younger residents · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family 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.