OfferBackedBuyer Tools
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 Hampden, MA 01036

Hampden: median income $104,536, home value $358,200, $279/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Middlefield, CT 06455 95%41$104,180$388,700$274 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
New Berlin, WI 53146 94%802$110,035$346,100$254 Very close on everything we compare
Northford, CT 06472 93%50$105,729$405,200$264 pricier homes ($47K more)
Morris, CT 06763 92%46$109,853$394,200$257 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Ghent, NY 12075 92%64$98,047$422,900$253 pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller
Clarklake, MI 49234 92%611$110,313$295,000$355 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Preston, CT 06365 91%44$117,045$361,400$274 Very close on everything we compare
Hurley, NY 12443 91%85$104,412$375,300$285 Very close on everything we compare
Boston, NY 14025 91%324$115,188$267,200$248 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Zionsville, PA 18092 91%195$112,721$422,200$219 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
Columbia, NJ 07832 90%156$106,424$355,200$237 7 min longer commute
Chesterland, OH 44026 90%460$111,761$330,800$194 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Scotts, MI 49088 90%667$100,208$284,300$211 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Franksville, WI 53126 90%794$101,206$386,300$239 pricier homes ($28K more) · younger residents
Kansasville, WI 53139 90%801$99,635$305,500$285 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
North Scituate, RI 02857 89%44$108,679$428,100$265 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Hartland, VT 05048 89%104$99,583$338,800$234 smaller · older residents
Coventry, CT 06238 89%20$108,213$330,000$244 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · younger residents
Bozrah, CT 06334 89%38$107,969$310,400$236 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
East Haddam, CT 06423 89%41$107,549$373,700$306 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Harwinton, CT 06791 89%39$129,762$351,700$221 higher income ($25K more)
New Hartford, CT 06057 88%33$117,906$380,200$284 Very close on everything we compare
Oakdale, CT 06370 88%43$105,700$332,500$231 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents
Prospect, CT 06712 88%48$126,394$355,400$260 larger
Branchville, NJ 07826 88%135$116,598$392,200$289 pricier homes ($34K more) · younger residents · 6 min longer 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.