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 Saint James, NY 11780

Saint James: median income $144,577, home value $723,200, $466/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Reading, MA 01864 93%159$147,768$710,500$425 Very close on everything we compare
Wilmington, MA 01887 91%155$168,152$680,500$422 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · younger residents
Millis, MA 02054 91%129$155,996$603,500$369 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller
North Easton, MA 02356 91%134$127,224$650,300$348 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Middletown, NJ 07748 91%60$152,981$600,600$413 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger
East Hanover, NJ 07936 91%63$149,583$702,800$409 6 min shorter commute
Littleton, MA 01460 90%143$149,722$658,300$374 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Marshfield, MA 02050 90%153$126,241$679,700$424 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Wrentham, MA 02093 90%125$151,676$654,900$355 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Whippany, NJ 07981 90%66$149,893$614,100$444 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Chelmsford, MA 01824 89%150$140,050$619,700$384 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · younger residents
Pembroke, MA 02359 89%147$146,285$586,500$392 cheaper homes ($137K less)
Oceanport, NJ 07757 89%60$126,094$757,700$524 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Upland, CA 91784 89%2,456$154,349$891,600$435 pricier homes ($168K more) · larger
Burlington, MA 01803 88%151$146,436$740,600$441 larger · more renters
Rowley, MA 01969 88%172$132,734$667,300$375 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Park Ridge, NJ 07656 88%47$171,029$706,200$429 higher income ($26K more) · smaller
Loomis, CA 95650 88%2,519$117,912$751,700$484 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($29K more)
Georgetown, MA 01833 87%170$153,750$653,500$360 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Kingston, MA 02364 87%147$119,876$610,600$386 cheaper homes ($113K less)
Butler, NJ 07405 87%67$135,169$569,800$342 cheaper homes ($153K less) · younger residents
Vashon, WA 98070 87%2,443$120,571$790,700$530 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller · older residents
Billerica, MA 01821 86%152$149,042$615,100$382 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Tewksbury, MA 01876 86%155$130,204$577,000$382 cheaper homes ($146K less) · larger
Walpole, MA 02081 86%132$156,250$687,500$396 cheaper homes ($36K less)

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.