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 Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

Shelburne Falls: median income $81,008, home value $354,600, $202/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chatham, NY 12037 90%47$89,844$343,900$263 Very close on everything we compare
South Royalton, VT 05068 84%84$80,911$298,600$226 cheaper homes ($56K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Bath, ME 04530 83%172$79,649$336,800$302 larger · younger residents
Randolph, VT 05060 80%93$77,317$255,500$200 cheaper homes ($99K less) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Keego Harbor, MI 48320 78%539$78,150$345,900$192 younger residents · newer homes
Sherrill, NY 13461 77%148$88,750$226,900$196 cheaper homes ($128K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Riegelsville, PA 18077 77%190$97,917$438,800$268 pricier homes ($84K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Marcellus, NY 13108 76%184$94,327$243,200$205 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Lewiston, NY 14092 75%320$72,218$279,900$199 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Bethlehem, NH 03574 74%128$81,250$288,300$191 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Deep River, CT 06417 74%86$90,253$362,200$286 younger residents · newer homes
Catskill, NY 12414 74%65$73,036$247,800$271 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · younger residents
Cornwall, NY 12518 74%106$101,208$432,000$289 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · younger residents
Cooperstown, NY 13326 74%111$80,040$340,100$240 12 min shorter commute
Beaver, PA 15009 74%414$88,294$261,000$187 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · younger residents
Hellertown, PA 18055 74%193$90,234$324,000$222 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · younger residents
Matamoras, PA 18336 74%133$71,295$250,200$234 cheaper homes ($104K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Farmingdale, ME 04344 73%187$71,635$249,700$245 cheaper homes ($105K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Niantic, CT 06357 73%92$93,026$397,300$301 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · newer homes
Pawcatuck, CT 06379 73%96$95,066$406,100$286 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · younger residents
Chester, CT 06412 73%84$109,191$442,200$260 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($88K more) · newer homes
Bantam, CT 06750 73%66$85,000$328,700$320 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · younger residents
Amenia, NY 12501 73%67$75,104$358,300$189 smaller · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Youngstown, NY 14174 73%321$79,695$250,300$231 cheaper homes ($104K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Fayetteville, NC 28305 73%618$78,148$260,900$175 cheaper homes ($94K less) · younger residents · 9 min shorter 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.