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 Halethorpe, MD 21227

Halethorpe: median income $85,986, home value $289,400, $209/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marcus Hook, PA 19061 95%79$82,005$252,400$217 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Pottstown, PA 19464 95%92$79,787$264,400$197 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Whitehall, PA 18052 93%117$75,665$262,900$201 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Allentown, PA 18103 91%114$72,895$272,700$193 Very close on everything we compare
Fitchburg, MA 01420 90%345$72,780$335,300$246 pricier homes ($46K more)
Bristol, CT 06010 90%261$79,314$277,900$229 larger
Ansonia, CT 06401 90%240$86,178$285,800$236 smaller
Bridgeport, CT 06606 90%229$73,372$289,000$271 Very close on everything we compare
Minneapolis, MN 55432 90%937$79,520$301,800$187 newer homes
Manchester, CT 06040 89%281$83,422$259,400$224 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Meriden, CT 06450 89%260$71,250$242,600$211 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Newburgh, NY 12550 89%212$85,697$340,900$244 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55119 89%923$81,865$277,500$184 newer homes
Elgin, IL 60120 89%636$82,449$242,300$205 cheaper homes ($47K less) · newer homes
Westfield, MA 01085 88%288$88,728$326,100$240 pricier homes ($37K more)
Brookhaven, PA 19015 88%82$82,450$246,700$238 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Norfolk, VA 23518 88%162$77,594$300,700$238 more single-family homes
Glendale Heights, IL 60139 88%625$86,372$261,800$220 cheaper homes ($28K less) · newer homes
Joliet, IL 60435 88%622$76,369$235,500$184 cheaper homes ($54K less) · more single-family homes
Pawtucket, RI 02861 87%335$83,411$315,400$252 pricier homes ($26K more) · more walkable
Vernon Rockville, CT 06066 87%287$85,356$275,500$226 Very close on everything we compare
Meriden, CT 06451 87%259$71,255$239,800$217 cheaper homes ($50K less)
West Haven, CT 06516 87%242$74,382$291,700$246 larger · more renters
Waterbury, CT 06708 87%249$67,364$218,500$202 cheaper homes ($71K less)
York, PA 17403 87%50$75,384$220,500$147 cheaper homes ($69K less)

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.