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 Dalton, MA 01226

Dalton: median income $79,438, home value $295,700, $184/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Randolph, VT 05060 91%104$77,317$255,500$200 cheaper homes ($40K less) · newer homes
South Royalton, VT 05068 91%98$80,911$298,600$226 smaller
Sherrill, NY 13461 90%130$88,750$226,900$196 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Lewiston, NY 14092 90%301$72,218$279,900$199 larger · newer homes
Beaver, PA 15009 89%391$88,294$261,000$187 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223 88%440$90,335$217,800$179 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15209 87%378$85,542$233,900$199 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Roanoke, VA 24014 87%510$70,381$266,100$172 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Fayetteville, NC 28305 87%598$78,148$260,900$175 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents · more renters
Bethlehem, NH 03574 86%145$81,250$288,300$191 smaller · newer homes
Brattleboro, VT 05301 86%39$65,910$270,900$220 larger
Barre, VT 05641 86%123$76,855$253,200$203 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Cheswick, PA 15024 86%370$79,647$239,600$181 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more single-family homes
Cleveland, OH 44143 86%432$81,268$273,100$175 larger · newer homes
Keego Harbor, MI 48320 86%518$78,150$345,900$192 pricier homes ($50K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Frankenmuth, MI 48734 86%539$91,032$305,100$174 newer homes
Waterford, NY 12188 85%36$92,279$281,400$228 larger
Henrietta, NY 14467 85%229$88,653$225,100$201 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · newer homes
Bath, ME 04530 84%195$79,649$336,800$302 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · older homes
Camillus, NY 13031 84%163$88,224$218,300$216 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Marcellus, NY 13108 84%165$94,327$243,200$205 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more single-family homes
Chatham, NY 12037 83%23$89,844$343,900$263 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · less walkable
Clinton, NY 13323 83%120$78,224$244,600$193 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · younger residents
New Hartford, NY 13413 83%115$95,261$240,400$206 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 83%304$81,540$219,500$158 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger

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.