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 Alexandria, VA 22307

Alexandria: median income $141,667, home value $778,900, $425/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Swampscott, MA 01907 92%412$134,386$771,100$441 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Kisco, NY 10549 92%244$133,988$668,000$425 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 90%230$165,417$765,500$537 Very close on everything we compare
White Plains, NY 10605 90%234$148,982$787,500$459 larger
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 90%130$149,232$632,000$327 cheaper homes ($147K less)
Verona, NJ 07044 89%207$161,843$608,400$432 cheaper homes ($171K less) · more single-family homes
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 89%127$144,471$803,100$388 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Wakefield, MA 01880 88%406$134,306$723,500$468 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Newburyport, MA 01950 88%427$139,625$834,000$552 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · older residents
Irvington, NY 10533 87%231$174,038$874,400$588 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($96K more)
West Roxbury, MA 02132 86%393$138,724$746,100$505 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Springfield, NJ 07081 85%198$155,906$636,600$401 cheaper homes ($142K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Ramsey, NJ 07446 85%221$160,996$697,300$450 cheaper homes ($82K less) · more single-family homes
Eastchester, NY 10709 85%229$170,417$847,900$497 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($69K more) · more walkable
Natick, MA 01760 84%386$138,563$821,300$454 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Stamford, CT 06905 84%246$136,757$618,400$413 cheaper homes ($161K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Leonia, NJ 07605 84%218$129,219$672,900$469 cheaper homes ($106K less) · older homes
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 84%198$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($189K less) · larger · newer homes
Tuckahoe, NY 10707 84%229$130,957$773,200$493 more renters
Nyack, NY 10960 84%231$125,789$681,000$440 cheaper homes ($98K less) · more renters
Caldwell, NJ 07006 83%206$149,102$694,400$434 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Haverford, PA 19041 83%127$151,989$954,000$356 pricier homes ($175K more) · smaller · older residents
Narberth, PA 19072 83%129$172,550$819,700$372 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($41K more) · older homes
Washington, DC 20012 83%14$121,418$863,900$421 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 82%208$151,625$633,900$422 cheaper homes ($145K less) · more single-family 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.