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 Gaithersburg, MD 20882

Gaithersburg: median income $184,136, home value $737,400, $241/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Long Valley, NJ 07853 92%165$175,792$605,000$302 cheaper homes ($132K less)
Norfolk, MA 02056 91%364$200,720$725,200$344 younger residents
Warrenton, VA 20187 91%48$176,435$646,400$239 cheaper homes ($91K less) · younger residents
Pittstown, NJ 08867 89%149$204,583$601,600$276 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller
Glencoe, MO 63038 88%727$186,450$580,800$193 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller
Monroe, CT 06468 87%252$157,250$503,200$275 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($234K less)
Sandy Hook, CT 06482 87%254$159,828$499,200$285 cheaper homes ($238K less)
Saint Charles, IL 60175 87%619$181,352$519,700$221 cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger
Califon, NJ 07830 86%160$180,852$656,400$297 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Millstone Township, NJ 08510 86%149$225,966$740,700$318 higher income ($42K more) · smaller
Kendall Park, NJ 08824 86%160$174,776$628,000$360 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Lebanon, NJ 08833 86%157$172,454$604,400$323 cheaper homes ($133K less)
Jamison, PA 18929 86%130$179,380$627,700$274 cheaper homes ($110K less) · younger residents
Richboro, PA 18954 86%133$159,857$626,700$265 cheaper homes ($111K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Purcellville, VA 20132 86%32$181,875$776,300$274 pricier homes ($39K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Brookline, NH 03033 85%374$171,046$544,400$245 cheaper homes ($193K less) · smaller · younger residents
Windham, NH 03087 85%392$189,583$723,300$322 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Lake Worth, FL 33449 85%890$153,586$696,100$278 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Amherst, NH 03031 84%382$153,125$537,300$289 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($200K less)
Millstone Township, NJ 08535 84%148$209,732$734,100$329 higher income ($26K more) · smaller
Ringoes, NJ 08551 84%149$162,617$595,800$314 cheaper homes ($142K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Newtown, CT 06470 83%251$153,238$577,800$289 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($160K less)
Manassas, VA 20112 83%42$195,467$648,000$250 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · younger residents
Hollis, NH 03049 82%378$168,883$675,900$286 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Marlboro, NJ 07746 82%170$207,689$701,800$372 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 7 min longer 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.