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 Shirley, MA 01464

Shirley: median income $122,365, home value $427,600, $294/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chester, NY 10918 93%159$140,550$459,700$263 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Wingdale, NY 12594 92%117$144,202$385,000$269 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438 89%182$123,271$436,900$280 larger
Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732 89%372$140,304$448,700$261 larger
Sussex, NJ 07461 88%178$106,981$370,000$262 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Montague, NJ 07827 88%182$101,444$346,200$234 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Gardiner, NY 12525 88%144$110,268$446,500$336 smaller
Goshen, NY 10924 87%160$110,938$454,300$277 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Pawling, NY 12564 87%121$111,324$446,800$266 older residents · older homes
Westminster, MD 21158 87%347$109,827$384,700$223 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Harrisville, RI 02830 86%41$121,111$408,700$259 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Washingtonville, NY 10992 86%151$112,353$413,700$289 younger residents
La Plata, MD 20646 86%396$131,974$450,200$214 larger
Miami, FL 33194 86%1,277$126,250$499,900$299 pricier homes ($72K more) · newer homes
Sandown, NH 03873 85%34$135,040$483,400$324 pricier homes ($56K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Buxton, ME 04093 85%93$100,144$356,800$332 cheaper homes ($71K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Carmel, NY 10512 85%130$117,701$410,500$307 larger · older homes
Warwick, NY 10990 85%166$125,870$501,600$312 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger
Lagrangeville, NY 12540 85%125$111,320$483,100$251 pricier homes ($56K more) · more single-family homes
Pine Bush, NY 12566 85%152$112,831$357,000$274 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Chester, MD 21619 85%348$107,639$486,600$297 pricier homes ($59K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Epping, NH 03042 84%43$104,220$436,900$319 8 min shorter commute
Strafford, NH 03884 84%53$122,105$427,900$308 smaller · more homeowners
Washington, NJ 07882 84%213$107,567$354,900$242 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · older homes
Poughquag, NY 12570 84%123$128,906$466,200$246 pricier homes ($39K more)

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.