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 Northborough, MA 01532

Northborough: median income $153,199, home value $620,000, $331/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Amherst, NH 03031 93%37$153,125$537,300$289 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Brookfield, CT 06804 93%108$148,945$480,200$283 cheaper homes ($140K less)
Kendall Park, NJ 08824 93%200$174,776$628,000$360 Very close on everything we compare
Annapolis, MD 21409 93%338$147,151$535,500$286 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Newtown, CT 06470 92%107$153,238$577,800$289 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Pennington, NJ 08534 92%213$175,573$573,000$324 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 92%120$150,505$680,200$382 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Glenmoore, PA 19343 92%264$160,256$567,700$267 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Medford, NJ 08055 91%237$155,710$496,400$259 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
Flemington, NJ 08822 91%207$137,788$536,900$310 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Congers, NY 10920 91%143$145,567$582,800$375 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Bedford, NH 03110 90%43$167,418$612,100$302 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Randolph, NJ 07869 90%182$169,497$665,700$351 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · younger residents
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 90%195$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
East Setauket, NY 11733 90%121$173,281$683,400$408 pricier homes ($63K more)
Doylestown, PA 18902 90%225$161,267$668,200$301 pricier homes ($48K more) · newer homes
Stratham, NH 03885 89%62$151,998$655,400$349 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Naperville, IL 60565 89%846$164,447$519,900$267 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger
Simsbury, CT 06070 88%67$162,424$445,300$264 cheaper homes ($175K less)
Ridgefield, CT 06877 88%119$179,219$836,200$399 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($216K more) · larger
Chalfont, PA 18914 88%232$148,824$491,300$272 cheaper homes ($129K less)
Chadds Ford, PA 19317 88%266$174,408$624,900$245 Very close on everything we compare
Silver Spring, MD 20905 88%357$159,740$656,700$251 pricier homes ($37K more)
Barrington, IL 60010 88%842$177,566$638,100$255 larger
East Greenwich, RI 02818 87%47$139,217$613,500$342 5 min shorter commute · more walkable

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.