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 Ludlow, MA 01056

Ludlow: median income $84,838, home value $335,300, $251/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 93%834$82,783$245,900$201 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Burlington, WI 53105 92%806$88,770$318,500$227 Very close on everything we compare
Johnston, RI 02919 91%54$91,775$355,800$267 more walkable
Uncasville, CT 06382 91%52$89,635$267,800$257 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Saugerties, NY 12477 91%78$80,861$331,500$300 Very close on everything we compare
Coventry, RI 02816 89%57$101,431$350,800$263 larger · 6 min longer commute
Enfield, CT 06082 89%14$90,404$252,900$228 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Manheim, PA 17545 89%247$84,704$288,500$201 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Cottage Grove, OR 97424 89%2,519$79,688$372,500$275 pricier homes ($37K more) · newer homes
Roseburg, OR 97471 89%2,552$71,670$359,200$259 larger · newer homes
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 88%19$81,205$258,800$226 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · more walkable
Somerdale, NJ 08083 88%209$96,653$272,700$249 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Waterford, NY 12188 88%77$92,279$281,400$228 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Cannon Falls, MN 55009 88%1,035$91,295$331,300$208 smaller
North Bend, OR 97459 88%2,581$82,035$372,700$246 pricier homes ($37K more) · more walkable
Clarkston, WA 99403 88%2,195$71,482$325,300$216 5 min shorter commute
Swanton, VT 05488 87%192$77,154$288,700$225 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
North Tonawanda, NY 14120 87%330$74,871$222,500$215 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Fairless Hills, PA 19030 87%185$96,603$376,200$270 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · more walkable
Levittown, PA 19057 87%187$93,738$328,000$263 5 min longer commute · more walkable
Clear Lake, IA 50428 87%1,062$81,037$283,400$232 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · older residents
Plymouth, WI 53073 87%790$76,442$258,900$194 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Delavan, WI 53115 87%824$72,304$251,900$234 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Jefferson, WI 53549 87%832$80,101$262,200$207 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Great Falls, MT 59404 87%1,919$83,867$295,700$199 cheaper homes ($40K less) · newer homes

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.