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 Watertown, WI 53094

Watertown: median income $73,443, home value $237,500, $194/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Riverview, MI 48193 96%287$74,566$220,600$169 Very close on everything we compare
Circleville, OH 43113 95%389$67,231$237,100$177 Very close on everything we compare
Athol, MA 01331 94%834$72,181$281,400$248 pricier homes ($44K more)
Waynesboro, PA 17268 94%623$73,161$237,000$164 larger
Griffith, IN 46319 94%132$74,662$203,300$152 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Waterford, MI 48328 94%274$72,299$222,900$195 Very close on everything we compare
Bangor, PA 18013 93%713$78,847$259,600$195 Very close on everything we compare
Dover, OH 44622 93%415$70,780$223,600$179 Very close on everything we compare
Hobart, IN 46342 93%137$75,521$213,000$164 larger
Clinton Township, MI 48035 93%297$73,015$192,000$160 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Greenville, MI 48838 93%175$70,176$211,500$180 cheaper homes ($26K less) · newer homes
Springfield, VT 05156 92%816$66,679$204,300$162 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Millville, NJ 08332 92%757$67,496$214,200$192 larger
Port Jervis, NY 12771 92%728$68,136$261,100$234 Very close on everything we compare
Monaca, PA 15061 92%467$73,010$209,800$194 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Slatington, PA 18080 92%693$74,522$264,200$180 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Vinton, VA 24179 92%620$67,565$224,600$157 Very close on everything we compare
Urbana, OH 43078 92%333$73,816$197,600$165 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Saint Clairsville, OH 43950 92%454$76,175$225,900$177 Very close on everything we compare
Middletown, OH 45042 92%338$69,520$202,200$156 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Danielson, CT 06239 91%862$74,267$277,500$264 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Plainfield, CT 06374 91%861$71,882$248,700$194 smaller
Torrington, CT 06790 91%799$70,912$215,600$191 larger
Huntingdon, PA 16652 91%581$68,339$207,700$140 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Boyertown, PA 19512 91%701$79,885$274,200$208 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents

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.