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 Lyons, CO 80540

Lyons: median income $139,521, home value $795,500, $371/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ringoes, NJ 08551 92%1,598$162,617$595,800$314 cheaper homes ($200K less)
Hampton Falls, NH 03844 91%1,777$165,509$764,900$354 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Orangeburg, NY 10962 91%1,636$148,500$712,300$403 cheaper homes ($83K less)
West Newbury, MA 01985 90%1,773$179,500$808,200$387 higher income ($40K more)
East Sandwich, MA 02537 90%1,810$136,506$639,500$405 cheaper homes ($156K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Pipersville, PA 18947 89%1,584$140,783$615,000$302 cheaper homes ($181K less)
Monkton, MD 21111 89%1,517$136,304$607,200$235 cheaper homes ($188K less)
Littleton, MA 01460 88%1,749$149,722$658,300$374 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger
Allentown, NJ 08501 88%1,614$146,182$588,800$312 cheaper homes ($207K less) · newer homes
Georgetown, MA 01833 87%1,774$153,750$653,500$360 cheaper homes ($142K less) · larger · younger residents
Auburn, NH 03032 87%1,753$153,253$600,300$294 cheaper homes ($195K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Charlotte, VT 05445 87%1,654$144,375$695,300$377 cheaper homes ($100K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Eden, UT 84310 87%350$130,208$880,700$359 pricier homes ($85K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Portland, OR 97231 87%959$137,527$858,200$268 pricier homes ($63K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Boylston, MA 01505 86%1,739$140,962$578,600$343 cheaper homes ($217K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Princeton, MA 01541 86%1,730$158,750$520,500$284 cheaper homes ($275K less)
Mendon, MA 01756 86%1,750$132,256$616,000$314 cheaper homes ($180K less)
Hollis, NH 03049 86%1,743$168,883$675,900$286 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger
Cape Neddick, ME 03902 86%1,787$133,676$592,200$405 cheaper homes ($203K less) · smaller · more renters
Roxbury, CT 06783 86%1,665$123,864$714,500$345 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · older residents
Califon, NJ 07830 86%1,596$180,852$656,400$297 higher income ($41K more) · cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger
Tappan, NY 10983 86%1,637$160,170$610,900$413 cheaper homes ($185K less) · older homes
Upton, MA 01568 85%1,747$160,417$574,700$316 cheaper homes ($221K less) · larger
Amherst, NH 03031 85%1,741$153,125$537,300$289 cheaper homes ($258K less) · larger
North Yarmouth, ME 04097 85%1,806$129,267$496,500$340 cheaper homes ($299K less) · 6 min shorter commute

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.