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 Lake George, NY 12845

Lake George: median income $100,774, home value $355,900, $325/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vergennes, VT 05491 93%54$87,917$337,400$286 Very close on everything we compare
Nobleboro, ME 04555 92%215$100,417$352,600$348 smaller
Eliot, ME 03903 91%148$101,522$498,900$363 pricier homes ($143K more) · larger
Greenville, RI 02828 90%152$97,196$440,900$291 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger
Deep River, CT 06417 90%155$90,253$362,200$286 Very close on everything we compare
Feeding Hills, MA 01030 89%106$93,815$327,700$248 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
South Deerfield, MA 01373 89%85$106,413$413,500$250 pricier homes ($58K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Bristol, VT 05443 89%59$88,594$356,600$238 Very close on everything we compare
Pawcatuck, CT 06379 89%170$95,066$406,100$286 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
North Branford, CT 06471 89%151$109,388$371,200$273 larger · more homeowners
Plantsville, CT 06479 89%133$114,346$359,000$261 larger
Mazomanie, WI 53560 89%807$98,409$358,000$228 Very close on everything we compare
Valley, NE 68064 89%1,162$100,450$407,700$277 pricier homes ($52K more) · less walkable
Springfield, MA 01129 88%108$97,162$256,700$232 cheaper homes ($99K less)
West Boylston, MA 01583 88%121$106,094$441,500$312 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger · younger residents
Waterford, CT 06385 88%163$100,484$365,400$302 larger
Moodus, CT 06469 88%147$104,888$300,000$234 cheaper homes ($56K less) · younger residents
Madison Lake, MN 56063 88%1,003$102,391$416,300$297 pricier homes ($60K more) · younger residents
Palisade, CO 81526 88%1,812$87,500$501,800$337 pricier homes ($146K more)
Sheffield, MA 01257 87%93$102,788$441,000$299 pricier homes ($85K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Tiverton, RI 02878 87%178$106,036$411,900$306 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Walpole, NH 03608 87%69$88,224$355,600$219 younger residents
Enfield, NH 03748 87%80$95,089$388,500$290 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents
Bethlehem, CT 06751 87%125$108,929$410,900$249 pricier homes ($55K more) · 6 min longer commute
Elverson, PA 19520 87%250$100,088$417,200$201 pricier homes ($61K more)

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.