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 Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776

Port Jefferson Station: median income $120,573, home value $496,600, $337/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dracut, MA 01826 96%151$114,196$473,800$353 Very close on everything we compare
Millbury, MA 01527 94%111$118,790$450,100$285 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
North Dartmouth, MA 02747 94%118$102,079$484,800$309 Very close on everything we compare
Abington, MA 02351 93%136$125,400$539,600$350 pricier homes ($43K more)
Bellingham, MA 02019 92%114$125,307$450,700$282 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 6 min longer commute
East Bridgewater, MA 02333 92%133$133,741$509,200$322 smaller
Middleboro, MA 02346 92%130$97,056$468,700$299 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Salem, NH 03079 92%160$110,490$473,300$340 Very close on everything we compare
Brick, NJ 08723 92%82$108,643$400,800$350 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Bridgewater, MA 02324 91%130$112,726$533,600$318 pricier homes ($37K more)
Norton, MA 02766 91%121$124,535$501,400$312 Very close on everything we compare
Hudson, NH 03051 91%153$124,213$438,900$298 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents
Orangevale, CA 95662 91%2,530$96,689$558,300$352 pricier homes ($62K more)
North Billerica, MA 01862 90%146$138,571$586,200$367 pricier homes ($90K more) · smaller
Cumberland, RI 02864 90%111$117,522$431,000$281 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
North Smithfield, RI 02896 90%107$108,983$457,400$295 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · older residents
Shelton, CT 06484 90%27$108,185$452,600$293 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Trenton, NJ 08620 90%99$105,368$373,800$307 cheaper homes ($123K less) · smaller
Brick, NJ 08724 90%80$103,127$411,000$352 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Oxford, MA 01540 89%103$110,579$376,100$302 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller
Tewksbury, MA 01876 89%150$130,204$577,000$382 pricier homes ($80K more) · older residents
Seymour, CT 06483 89%33$107,708$370,000$242 cheaper homes ($127K less)
New Milford, CT 06776 89%50$104,112$387,000$275 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Enumclaw, WA 98022 89%2,429$120,406$608,500$352 pricier homes ($112K more) · 5 min longer commute
Bremerton, WA 98311 89%2,454$108,757$471,800$299 6 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.