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 Dickerson, MD 20842

Dickerson: median income $204,013, home value $745,800, $268/sq ft, 41-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Broad Run, VA 20137 85%31$191,974$720,900$355 more homeowners
Goshen, CT 06756 82%284$160,815$478,200$324 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($268K less)
Delaplane, VA 20144 81%36$192,614$698,200$228 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · older residents
Hampton Falls, NH 03844 80%426$165,509$764,900$354 lower income ($39K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Millstone Township, NJ 08510 80%163$225,966$740,700$318 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Pittstown, NJ 08867 80%162$204,583$601,600$276 cheaper homes ($144K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Amawalk, NY 10501 79%241$220,449$831,300$342 pricier homes ($86K more) · more homeowners
Princeton, MA 01541 78%366$158,750$520,500$284 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($225K less)
North Salem, NY 10560 78%250$193,906$674,000$342 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · younger residents
Millstone Township, NJ 08535 77%161$209,732$734,100$329 larger · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Lebanon, NJ 08833 77%169$172,454$604,400$323 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger
Hamilton, VA 20158 76%14$211,522$765,800$291 larger · younger residents · 10 min shorter commute
Upton, MA 01568 75%367$160,417$574,700$316 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($171K less) · larger
Dunstable, MA 01827 75%391$208,512$674,000$306 cheaper homes ($72K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Gaylordsville, CT 06755 75%267$185,119$462,700$264 cheaper homes ($283K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Califon, NJ 07830 74%173$180,852$656,400$297 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Fox Island, WA 98333 74%2,308$172,292$1,003,900$482 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($258K more)
Long Valley, NJ 07853 73%177$175,792$605,000$302 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger
Amston, CT 06231 72%314$168,313$407,500$255 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($338K less) · larger
Ringoes, NJ 08551 72%162$162,617$595,800$314 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger
Campbell Hall, NY 10916 72%227$135,556$492,400$295 lower income ($68K less) · cheaper homes ($253K less) · larger
Norfolk, MA 02056 71%377$200,720$725,200$344 larger · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Stockton, NJ 08559 71%156$179,600$560,600$345 cheaper homes ($185K less) · larger · older residents
Blue Point, NY 11715 71%255$163,125$600,100$428 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($146K less) · larger
Franktown, CO 80116 71%1,455$146,000$960,400$308 lower income ($58K less) · pricier homes ($215K more) · larger

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.