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 Royalston, MA 01368

Royalston: median income $102,500, home value $347,300, $206/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cortland, NE 68331 96%1,272$96,250$313,900$196 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Beldenville, WI 54003 94%1,018$94,352$343,900$175 5 min shorter commute
Berne, NY 12023 93%99$112,885$302,300$210 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Andover, NH 03216 92%56$88,311$358,800$194 Very close on everything we compare
Union, NH 03887 92%80$91,875$292,800$251 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Allenton, MI 48002 92%544$93,948$313,100$214 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Lyndeborough, NH 03082 91%26$120,313$397,700$220 pricier homes ($50K more)
East Berne, NY 12059 90%95$106,506$340,400$215 5 min shorter commute
Helenville, WI 53137 90%834$116,550$366,200$251 5 min shorter commute
Center City, MN 55012 90%1,037$101,607$386,600$226 pricier homes ($39K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Glen Spey, NY 12737 89%157$87,939$289,700$208 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Sharpsburg, MD 21782 89%365$94,130$311,600$207 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
South Haven, MN 55382 89%1,106$93,661$368,100$283 larger
Parker, KS 66072 89%1,230$101,875$296,800$235 cheaper homes ($51K less) · newer homes
Raymond, NE 68428 89%1,268$115,000$385,600$198 pricier homes ($38K more) · more renters
Greenwood, CA 95635 89%2,526$101,250$485,200$250 pricier homes ($138K more)
Greenfield, NH 03047 88%25$103,603$350,300$298 Very close on everything we compare
Fawn Grove, PA 17321 88%299$114,205$291,200$230 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Glenville, PA 17329 88%313$121,309$331,000$203 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Earleville, MD 21919 88%297$106,500$373,200$224 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Cross Junction, VA 22625 88%392$95,515$361,900$209 larger
Star Prairie, WI 54026 88%1,025$95,833$342,200$277 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Harris, MN 55032 88%1,050$104,554$380,900$271 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Fitzwilliam, NH 03447 87%7$100,735$305,900$260 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · older homes
Sanbornville, NH 03872 87%85$109,583$334,400$278 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.