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 Takoma Park, MD 20912

Takoma Park: median income $83,870, home value $699,300, $413/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20018 90%4$90,639$697,000$315 Very close on everything we compare
New Rochelle, NY 10801 89%216$85,573$575,300$378 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
Quincy, MA 02169 87%387$96,290$581,600$460 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger
Quincy, MA 02171 87%387$106,885$662,900$512 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Hyde Park, MA 02136 85%382$96,737$578,400$426 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Bloomfield, NJ 07003 85%195$103,663$470,600$421 cheaper homes ($229K less) · larger
Englewood, NJ 07631 85%208$102,571$544,100$428 cheaper homes ($155K less)
Mount Vernon, NY 10553 85%215$84,478$551,200$287 cheaper homes ($148K less) · smaller
Quincy, MA 02170 84%387$103,627$668,300$487 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older homes
North Arlington, NJ 07031 84%197$94,201$474,500$434 cheaper homes ($225K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80223 84%1,491$79,151$539,900$355 cheaper homes ($159K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Tarrytown, NY 10591 83%221$104,984$681,000$564 Very close on everything we compare
Norwood, MA 02062 82%376$107,030$651,700$432 cheaper homes ($48K less) · less walkable
Malden, MA 02148 82%392$100,606$633,500$451 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Falls Church, VA 22044 82%12$101,034$775,600$339 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller · newer homes
Beverly, MA 01915 81%405$104,918$649,700$475 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · more homeowners
Ridgefield, NJ 07657 81%204$118,059$646,200$398 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Clifton, NJ 07012 80%198$101,737$483,800$498 cheaper homes ($216K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Port Chester, NY 10573 80%225$105,686$662,900$510 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Glen Cove, NY 11542 80%221$93,242$702,400$499 older residents · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Miami, FL 33145 80%933$73,995$581,600$485 cheaper homes ($118K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Northridge, CA 91325 80%2,306$87,168$944,500$530 pricier homes ($245K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Edison, NJ 08837 79%177$102,605$437,900$389 cheaper homes ($261K less) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Miami, FL 33138 79%926$75,051$784,700$560 pricier homes ($85K more) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Encino, CA 91316 79%2,308$92,311$961,100$586 pricier homes ($262K more) · older residents · 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.