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 Severn, MD 21144

Severn: median income $136,684, home value $483,700, $239/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eagle River, AK 99577 94%3,346$136,900$437,000$262 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Perkasie, PA 18944 93%115$130,997$426,100$248 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Rosemount, MN 55068 92%927$127,798$395,900$198 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Londonderry, NH 03053 91%379$134,038$507,600$308 older residents
Merrimack, NH 03054 91%374$127,303$458,700$264 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Farmington, MN 55024 91%927$127,280$378,700$192 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Bartlett, IL 60103 91%635$133,793$379,000$232 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Littleton, CO 80128 91%1,510$121,436$586,000$269 pricier homes ($102K more)
Harleysville, PA 19438 90%105$138,134$480,300$246 older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55449 90%940$131,832$438,300$195 cheaper homes ($45K less) · newer homes
Hooksett, NH 03106 89%385$118,442$408,400$273 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller
Swedesboro, NJ 08085 89%85$134,762$384,500$225 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller
Sussex, WI 53089 89%660$120,875$418,900$248 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Hudson, WI 54016 89%914$113,085$452,000$224 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Hugo, MN 55038 89%929$130,931$422,800$201 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Savage, MN 55378 89%938$124,871$430,900$189 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Norton, MA 02766 88%350$124,535$501,400$312 smaller
Kennesaw, GA 30152 88%566$126,578$427,500$191 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Elk River, MN 55330 88%961$115,761$382,600$198 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Prior Lake, MN 55372 88%940$145,499$467,400$206 Very close on everything we compare
Oswego, IL 60543 88%637$119,371$343,800$206 cheaper homes ($140K less)
Castle Rock, CO 80104 88%1,501$134,335$624,200$222 pricier homes ($141K more)
Gorham, ME 04038 87%451$112,312$460,900$301 smaller
Jackson, NJ 08527 87%145$115,487$485,800$299 larger
Collegeville, PA 19426 87%99$151,748$498,700$250 Very close on everything we compare

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.