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 Melville, NY 11747

Melville: median income $159,540, home value $757,800, $486/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Walpole, MA 02081 89%145$156,250$687,500$396 cheaper homes ($70K less) · younger residents
Newtown, PA 18940 89%89$157,414$655,000$316 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Roseland, NJ 07068 87%47$164,458$665,700$419 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller
Norwood, NJ 07648 87%32$178,311$709,100$474 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Montville, NJ 07045 86%51$185,078$669,400$358 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller
North Reading, MA 01864 85%172$147,768$710,500$425 cheaper homes ($47K less) · younger residents
Holmdel, NJ 07733 85%49$166,849$843,300$413 pricier homes ($86K more) · more single-family homes
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 85%61$192,857$799,900$439 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($42K more)
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 85%66$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($167K less) · larger · younger residents
Canton, MA 02021 84%151$143,381$710,600$425 cheaper homes ($47K less) · younger residents · more renters
Millis, MA 02054 84%142$155,996$603,500$369 cheaper homes ($154K less) · smaller
Wrentham, MA 02093 84%138$151,676$654,900$355 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Watchung, NJ 07069 84%56$171,705$883,300$405 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Mahwah, NJ 07430 84%45$131,327$606,000$427 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($152K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Honolulu, HI 96825 84%4,981$153,210$1,088,700$759 pricier homes ($331K more) · larger
Northborough, MA 01532 83%139$153,199$620,000$331 cheaper homes ($138K less) · more single-family homes
Ramsey, NJ 07446 83%43$160,996$697,300$450 cheaper homes ($61K less) · younger residents · older homes
Westwood, NJ 07675 83%35$183,154$719,400$453 cheaper homes ($38K less) · younger residents · older homes
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 83%57$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($168K less) · younger residents · more renters
Yorba Linda, CA 92887 83%2,455$163,953$1,179,100$575 pricier homes ($421K more)
Franklin, MA 02038 82%137$145,773$611,700$343 cheaper homes ($146K less) · larger · younger residents
Duxbury, MA 02332 82%164$176,583$874,600$459 pricier homes ($117K more) · more single-family homes
Burlington, MA 01803 81%164$146,436$740,600$441 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Hingham, MA 02043 81%163$178,390$1,134,200$550 pricier homes ($376K more)
Whippany, NJ 07981 81%53$149,893$614,100$444 cheaper homes ($144K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute

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.