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 Fort Washington, MD 20744

Fort Washington: median income $124,190, home value $439,400, $228/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pasadena, MD 21122 89%36$127,587$425,800$254 6 min shorter commute
Bellingham, MA 02019 86%369$125,307$450,700$282 smaller · younger residents
Carmel, NY 10512 86%255$117,701$410,500$307 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Feasterville Trevose, PA 19053 86%144$107,780$413,100$267 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Westminster, MD 21157 86%56$104,966$424,100$228 6 min shorter commute
Lemont, IL 60439 86%614$121,724$480,800$264 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · newer homes
Toms River, NJ 08753 85%173$105,224$409,200$323 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Brewster, NY 10509 85%256$116,831$458,300$291 smaller
Goshen, NY 10924 85%230$110,938$454,300$277 smaller
La Plata, MD 20646 85%16$131,974$450,200$214 smaller · less walkable
Clinton, MD 20735 85%4$126,196$432,900$211 less walkable
Joppa, MD 21085 85%57$113,714$348,600$210 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Hudson, NH 03051 84%402$124,213$438,900$298 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Walkersville, MD 21793 84%53$121,971$459,400$226 smaller
Woodbridge, VA 22193 84%21$117,337$444,800$264 younger residents
Washington, NJ 07882 83%174$107,567$354,900$242 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Sewell, NJ 08080 83%122$122,262$357,000$229 cheaper homes ($82K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Bayville, NJ 08721 83%171$105,273$383,900$329 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Westminster, MD 21158 83%59$109,827$384,700$223 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · less walkable
Fredericksburg, VA 22407 83%46$111,129$409,500$219 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Shelton, CT 06484 82%269$108,185$452,600$293 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
West Milford, NJ 07480 82%212$132,676$379,900$292 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Newton, NJ 07860 82%197$110,045$367,100$283 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Brick, NJ 08723 82%177$108,643$400,800$350 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Southampton, PA 18966 82%144$128,838$488,400$282 pricier homes ($49K more) · 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.

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