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 Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732

Chesapeake Beach: median income $140,304, home value $448,700, $261/sq ft, 42-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rutland, MA 01543 94%352$145,707$462,800$286 Very close on everything we compare
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438 94%195$123,271$436,900$280 Very close on everything we compare
Chester, NY 10918 94%221$140,550$459,700$263 Very close on everything we compare
Poughquag, NY 12570 92%254$128,906$466,200$246 smaller
Stewartsville, NJ 08886 91%159$161,168$447,100$272 smaller
Shirley, MA 01464 89%372$122,365$427,600$294 smaller
Douglas, MA 01516 88%344$153,172$467,000$291 8 min shorter commute
New Boston, NH 03070 88%391$154,000$480,300$284 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Warwick, NY 10990 88%213$125,870$501,600$312 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Hopewell Junction, NY 12533 88%247$141,585$478,600$266 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Wingdale, NY 12594 88%259$144,202$385,000$269 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Spotsylvania, VA 22553 88%66$135,856$480,200$210 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · younger residents
Great Meadows, NJ 07838 87%173$121,599$440,100$265 smaller
Highland Mills, NY 10930 87%225$120,098$430,000$275 younger residents
West Grove, PA 19390 87%88$128,858$417,900$222 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Raynham, MA 02767 86%367$124,105$522,400$332 pricier homes ($74K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Weare, NH 03281 86%395$118,271$396,300$242 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Campbell Hall, NY 10916 86%227$135,556$492,400$295 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Pepperell, MA 01463 85%379$123,911$482,100$298 pricier homes ($33K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Westtown, NY 10998 85%211$129,348$462,000$282 smaller
Lagrangeville, NY 12540 85%254$111,320$483,100$251 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($34K more)
Geneva, FL 32732 85%734$119,205$487,600$280 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Lemont, IL 60439 85%639$121,724$480,800$264 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Sturbridge, MA 01566 84%334$137,730$415,900$268 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Glen Gardner, NJ 08826 84%165$123,750$451,700$256 smaller · 7 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.