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 Northbridge, MA 01534

Northbridge: median income $141,250, home value $481,200, $265/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Woodstock, CT 06281 93%22$125,778$428,800$261 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Chugiak, AK 99567 93%3,343$147,319$471,300$278 Very close on everything we compare
Suffield, CT 06078 92%52$116,054$412,400$255 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Cranston, RI 02921 91%28$147,204$535,800$293 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Fogelsville, PA 18051 91%234$139,506$459,600$213 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Delafield, WI 53018 91%852$124,595$521,400$284 pricier homes ($40K more)
Goffstown, NH 03045 90%60$119,205$384,600$294 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Valley City, OH 44280 89%533$130,167$386,000$204 cheaper homes ($95K less)
West Greenwich, RI 02817 88%35$135,625$535,400$274 pricier homes ($54K more)
Litchfield, NH 03052 88%49$162,036$485,000$337 Very close on everything we compare
Lee, NH 03861 88%75$131,579$480,600$281 more homeowners
Hebron, CT 06248 88%50$134,435$376,200$239 cheaper homes ($105K less) · 5 min longer commute
Ocean View, NJ 08230 88%258$115,152$410,200$245 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($71K less) · more homeowners
Center Valley, PA 18034 88%225$153,200$475,900$235 Very close on everything we compare
Plantsville, CT 06479 87%75$114,346$359,000$261 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($122K less) · larger
Lafayette, NJ 07848 87%173$128,317$436,800$288 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Stevensville, MD 21666 87%331$123,645$494,300$278 larger
Londonderry, NH 03053 86%51$134,038$507,600$308 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Pelham, NH 03076 86%44$135,956$552,600$312 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · younger residents
Gilford, NH 03249 86%97$116,635$456,500$334 Very close on everything we compare
Newton, NH 03858 86%59$138,487$459,500$290 more single-family homes
Colchester, CT 06415 86%54$123,256$366,300$265 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger
Middlebury, CT 06762 86%86$133,487$476,400$253 more walkable
Toano, VA 23168 86%428$137,481$424,900$207 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · newer homes
Lodi, WI 53555 86%910$119,305$392,200$209 cheaper homes ($89K less)

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.