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 Washington, DC 20012

Washington: median income $121,418, home value $863,900, $421/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mamaroneck, NY 10543 91%221$126,417$729,600$560 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Swampscott, MA 01907 90%401$134,386$771,100$441 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Melrose, MA 02176 90%394$133,953$822,900$494 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · older homes
Wakefield, MA 01880 88%396$134,306$723,500$468 cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger
Tuckahoe, NY 10707 88%218$130,957$773,200$493 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Rutherford, NJ 07070 87%201$143,153$603,600$489 cheaper homes ($260K less)
Nyack, NY 10960 87%220$125,789$681,000$440 cheaper homes ($183K less)
West Roxbury, MA 02132 85%383$138,724$746,100$505 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Great Neck, NY 11021 85%215$120,230$662,000$534 cheaper homes ($202K less) · older residents
Mineola, NY 11501 85%217$137,665$655,500$522 cheaper homes ($208K less)
Roslindale, MA 02131 84%384$111,006$664,700$517 cheaper homes ($199K less) · larger · older homes
Wood Ridge, NJ 07075 84%203$136,108$566,200$418 cheaper homes ($298K less) · smaller · newer homes
Quincy, MA 02171 83%389$106,885$662,900$512 cheaper homes ($201K less) · more renters
Alexandria, VA 22307 83%14$141,667$778,900$425 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Red Bank, NJ 07701 82%184$112,143$584,500$472 cheaper homes ($279K less) · newer homes
Harrison, NY 10528 82%223$154,416$937,500$598 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($74K more) · newer homes
Mount Kisco, NY 10549 82%233$133,988$668,000$425 cheaper homes ($196K less) · newer homes
Long Beach, NY 11561 82%211$141,629$715,300$558 cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Quincy, MA 02170 81%388$103,627$668,300$487 cheaper homes ($196K less) · older homes
Nutley, NJ 07110 81%198$119,646$517,500$421 cheaper homes ($346K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Leonia, NJ 07605 81%207$129,219$672,900$469 cheaper homes ($191K less) · smaller · older residents
Ridgefield, NJ 07657 81%205$118,059$646,200$398 cheaper homes ($218K less) · smaller · more renters
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 81%219$165,417$765,500$537 higher income ($44K more) · cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller
Silver Spring, MD 20901 81%3$131,386$589,800$337 cheaper homes ($274K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98126 81%2,322$116,466$783,700$525 cheaper homes ($80K less) · 8 min shorter commute · newer 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.