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.

Reset

Towns most like Hollywood, MD 20636

Hollywood: median income $163,690, home value $474,000, $218/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Greenwich, RI 02817 90%345$135,625$535,400$274 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Madera, CA 93636 90%2,350$133,274$542,100$268 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($68K more)
Toano, VA 23168 89%68$137,481$424,900$207 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($49K less)
Colbert, WA 99005 89%2,133$125,530$561,100$216 lower income ($38K less) · pricier homes ($87K more)
Douglas, MA 01516 88%360$153,172$467,000$291 Very close on everything we compare
New Boston, NH 03070 88%409$154,000$480,300$284 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Pelham, NH 03076 88%409$135,956$552,600$312 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($79K more)
Gilbertsville, PA 19525 88%145$140,403$405,400$216 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Eads, TN 38028 88%758$151,389$463,600$210 older residents
Rutland, MA 01543 86%369$145,707$462,800$286 7 min longer commute
Litchfield, NH 03052 86%410$162,036$485,000$337 Very close on everything we compare
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 86%120$157,009$488,100$252 larger
Ostrander, OH 43061 86%379$157,568$400,300$229 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Morrow, OH 45152 86%412$123,366$351,700$200 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($122K less)
Saint Michael, MN 55376 86%997$131,266$389,200$185 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Sandown, NH 03873 85%424$135,040$483,400$324 lower income ($29K less) · smaller
Homer Glen, IL 60491 85%643$138,571$424,700$212 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Berkley, MA 02779 84%377$144,205$511,200$328 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Burlington, CT 06013 84%303$165,120$418,700$252 cheaper homes ($55K less) · older homes
Adams, TN 37010 84%592$118,179$424,900$213 lower income ($46K less) · cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Hinckley, OH 44233 84%340$136,915$443,500$263 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($31K less)
Polk City, IA 50226 84%934$153,011$417,500$297 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Scandia, MN 55073 84%962$128,723$462,400$249 lower income ($35K less) · smaller
Dayton, MN 55327 84%988$140,366$492,400$214 smaller · newer homes
Somers, CT 06071 83%332$126,500$396,500$237 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($78K less) · older 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.