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 West Townsend, MA 01474

West Townsend: median income $136,371, home value $460,200, $277/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fall Creek, OR 97438 92%2,521$125,156$584,900$319 pricier homes ($125K more) · smaller
Candia, NH 03034 88%35$131,350$412,700$294 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · newer homes
Pascoag, RI 02859 87%49$124,592$385,500$288 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Ray, MI 48096 87%566$117,917$377,700$227 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Gaston, OR 97119 87%2,516$115,515$629,000$300 pricier homes ($169K more) · larger
Harrisville, RI 02830 86%48$121,111$408,700$259 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Hope, RI 02831 86%64$137,181$462,200$299 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Branchville, NJ 07826 86%186$116,598$392,200$289 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
New Hampton, NY 10958 86%165$147,898$417,400$263 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents
Rock Tavern, NY 12575 86%149$142,530$446,200$268 more homeowners · newer homes
Salisbury Mills, NY 12577 86%148$124,028$469,800$249 Very close on everything we compare
Salt Point, NY 12578 86%121$108,194$372,800$268 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($87K less)
Stormville, NY 12582 86%127$133,328$468,600$291 larger
Midland, VA 22728 86%422$120,789$516,300$262 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · newer homes
Maple Park, IL 60151 86%861$117,450$347,400$193 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Northwood, NH 03261 85%47$129,375$363,000$308 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Newfoundland, NJ 07435 85%177$145,342$464,000$359 older residents
Bloomsbury, NJ 08804 85%222$107,333$462,000$271 lower income ($29K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Central Valley, NY 10917 85%153$121,944$577,900$264 pricier homes ($118K more) · older homes
Tacoma, WA 98443 85%2,452$105,035$519,100$320 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Bradford, NH 03221 84%42$109,803$325,400$337 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($135K less)
Stockholm, NJ 07460 84%179$145,081$384,200$323 cheaper homes ($76K less) · 5 min longer commute
Lake Helen, FL 32744 84%1,083$112,599$453,700$238 larger · newer homes
Scandia, MN 55073 84%1,060$128,723$462,400$249 larger · newer homes
Newton, NH 03858 83%39$138,487$459,500$290 larger · newer homes

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.