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 East Freetown, MA 02717

East Freetown: median income $130,625, home value $520,800, $336/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Bridgewater, MA 02333 92%19$133,741$509,200$322 larger
North Dighton, MA 02764 92%11$135,640$533,800$369 Very close on everything we compare
Sandown, NH 03873 92%81$135,040$483,400$324 cheaper homes ($37K less) · newer homes
Midland, VA 22728 92%419$120,789$516,300$262 Very close on everything we compare
West Townsend, MA 01474 91%74$136,371$460,200$277 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
East Wareham, MA 02538 91%16$123,750$392,000$404 cheaper homes ($129K less)
Stony Point, NY 10980 91%161$126,284$513,700$337 larger
Scandia, MN 55073 91%1,118$128,723$462,400$249 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Palo Cedro, CA 96073 91%2,628$120,469$567,000$274 pricier homes ($46K more)
Tacoma, WA 98443 91%2,515$105,035$519,100$320 lower income ($26K less)
Lakeville, MA 02347 90%5$133,984$565,900$358 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Stormville, NY 12582 90%143$133,328$468,600$291 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Gaston, OR 97119 90%2,578$115,515$629,000$300 pricier homes ($108K more) · older residents
Hanson, MA 02341 89%21$132,250$536,100$337 larger
Northwood, NH 03261 89%100$129,375$363,000$308 cheaper homes ($158K less)
Branchville, NJ 07826 89%200$116,598$392,200$289 cheaper homes ($129K less) · older residents
Foster, RI 02825 88%39$112,593$445,600$272 cheaper homes ($75K less)
North Berwick, ME 03906 88%109$105,156$432,900$325 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($88K less)
East Moriches, NY 11940 88%114$138,639$661,600$432 pricier homes ($141K more)
Virginia Beach, VA 23457 88%446$116,250$571,000$312 pricier homes ($50K more) · newer homes
Barre, MA 01005 87%74$111,148$392,600$247 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Hope, RI 02831 87%31$137,181$462,200$299 cheaper homes ($59K less) · more homeowners
New Ipswich, NH 03071 87%82$110,507$392,400$278 cheaper homes ($128K less) · newer homes
Sanbornton, NH 03269 87%128$107,083$450,000$319 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · newer homes
Mine Hill, NJ 07803 87%197$119,583$434,100$315 cheaper homes ($87K 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.

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