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.

Reset

Towns most like Three Rivers, MA 01080

Three Rivers: median income $89,063, home value $270,000, $195/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lakehurst, NJ 08733 89%181$85,750$248,400$244 newer homes
Akron, PA 17501 88%244$78,182$258,900$199 larger · newer homes
Delaware City, DE 19706 86%247$83,681$263,000$218 Very close on everything we compare
Ronks, PA 17572 85%248$80,804$288,800$237 more homeowners
Canaan, CT 06018 84%50$68,917$280,200$195 Very close on everything we compare
Waitsburg, WA 99361 84%2,253$91,367$295,900$153 pricier homes ($26K more) · more single-family homes
Fort Johnson, NY 12070 83%111$86,989$202,900$137 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older residents
Bally, PA 19503 83%207$77,411$234,600$252 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · older residents
Richlandtown, PA 18955 81%193$78,750$339,600$235 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller · newer homes
Coxsackie, NY 12051 80%75$91,786$331,900$207 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Colfax, IA 50054 80%1,072$89,940$211,500$143 cheaper homes ($59K less) · more single-family homes
Le Sueur, MN 56058 80%1,090$86,677$280,300$158 larger · more single-family homes
Putnam, CT 06260 79%30$70,502$269,500$221 larger · older residents
South Glens Falls, NY 12803 79%100$82,057$231,300$229 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · newer homes
Mont Alto, PA 17237 79%315$80,903$193,600$205 cheaper homes ($76K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Shoemakersville, PA 19555 79%220$89,583$239,900$190 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Williamsport, MD 21795 79%336$87,864$295,800$180 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · newer homes
Colfax, WA 99111 79%2,209$73,393$295,800$184 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Troy, NH 03465 78%45$88,871$266,600$259 more homeowners · more single-family homes · newer homes
Bellmawr, NJ 08031 78%214$76,654$239,400$235 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · more walkable
Richland, PA 17087 78%238$93,150$225,200$219 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Taylor, PA 18517 78%181$77,120$190,100$117 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Fairview, MT 59221 78%1,593$77,115$243,600$230 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Danielson, CT 06239 77%36$74,267$277,500$264 larger · 5 min longer commute
Glendora, NJ 08029 77%215$98,184$250,400$223 larger · more single-family homes · more walkable

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.