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 North Grafton, MA 01536

North Grafton: median income $115,938, home value $470,800, $310/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Frenchtown, NJ 08825 94%209$101,774$451,500$326 Very close on everything we compare
Bethel, CT 06801 91%105$116,541$434,600$296 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Canton, CT 06019 90%67$117,418$390,400$231 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Brewster, NY 10509 90%113$116,831$458,300$291 larger
Altamont, NY 12009 90%123$120,101$342,900$247 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Mound, MN 55364 90%1,111$108,725$459,400$260 larger
Wilton, NH 03086 89%42$113,750$381,600$284 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
Sloatsburg, NY 10974 89%149$117,596$433,300$312 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
High Bridge, NJ 08829 88%197$112,467$336,500$299 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller
Cornwall, NY 12518 88%133$101,208$432,000$289 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Pawling, NY 12564 88%107$111,324$446,800$266 older residents
Red Hook, NY 12571 88%111$118,967$431,200$328 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Mine Hill, NJ 07803 87%176$119,583$434,100$315 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Rockaway, NJ 07866 87%171$131,403$457,400$329 larger
Bohemia, NY 11716 87%125$128,889$559,800$385 pricier homes ($89K more)
Ellington, CT 06029 86%45$129,331$367,200$249 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · newer homes
Goshen, NY 10924 86%147$110,938$454,300$277 larger · 7 min longer commute
Pearl River, NY 10965 86%144$132,660$596,700$395 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger
Valley Cottage, NY 10989 86%139$134,267$549,700$390 pricier homes ($79K more) · more homeowners
Voorheesville, NY 12186 86%118$112,446$360,000$232 cheaper homes ($111K less)
Pleasant Valley, NY 12569 86%113$100,846$380,100$246 cheaper homes ($91K less) · newer homes
Plaistow, NH 03865 85%52$108,317$404,500$312 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Richmond, VT 05477 85%162$108,971$424,400$295 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Colchester, CT 06415 85%56$123,256$366,300$265 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · newer homes
Portland, CT 06480 85%65$118,929$337,400$239 cheaper homes ($133K 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.