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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 Townsend, MA 01469

Townsend: median income $103,801, home value $425,800, $268/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lagrangeville, NY 12540 95%126$111,320$483,100$251 pricier homes ($57K more)
Barre, MA 01005 93%27$111,148$392,600$247 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Patterson, NY 12563 92%126$98,415$412,300$264 older homes
Knoxville, MD 21758 92%386$111,528$424,600$189 smaller
Lunenburg, MA 01462 91%5$112,992$463,800$320 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
New Ipswich, NH 03071 90%11$110,507$392,400$278 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Ashford, CT 06278 90%58$121,875$335,500$271 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Sussex, NJ 07461 90%179$106,981$370,000$262 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Cochranville, PA 19330 90%292$109,779$387,100$223 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Montpelier, VA 23192 90%460$110,642$428,700$233 Very close on everything we compare
Pepperell, MA 01463 88%5$123,911$482,100$298 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Charlton, MA 01507 88%38$117,587$427,500$272 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Landing, NJ 07850 88%195$106,806$417,900$371 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomsbury, NJ 08804 88%224$107,333$462,000$271 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · older residents
Washingtonville, NY 10992 88%153$112,353$413,700$289 Very close on everything we compare
Montgomery, NY 12549 88%152$122,734$407,900$258 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Pine Bush, NY 12566 88%153$112,831$357,000$274 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Shirley, MA 01464 87%6$122,365$427,600$294 older residents
Foster, RI 02825 87%60$112,593$445,600$272 5 min shorter commute
Northwood, NH 03261 87%46$129,375$363,000$308 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($63K less)
Underhill, VT 05489 87%144$92,352$442,400$288 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
New Egypt, NJ 08533 87%231$113,583$492,500$279 pricier homes ($67K more) · 6 min shorter commute
North Berwick, ME 03906 86%68$105,156$432,900$325 7 min shorter commute
Buxton, ME 04093 86%90$100,144$356,800$332 cheaper homes ($69K less) · older residents
Florida, NY 10921 86%164$115,221$387,300$277 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · 8 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.

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