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 Princeton, MA 01541

Princeton: median income $158,750, home value $520,500, $284/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Amston, CT 06231 93%62$168,313$407,500$255 cheaper homes ($113K less)
Baldwin, MD 21013 92%315$171,354$572,100$238 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · younger residents
Bethany, CT 06524 91%91$166,236$418,000$257 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Myersville, MD 21773 91%358$161,908$544,400$212 larger
Mont Vernon, NH 03057 90%33$156,250$518,400$275 7 min shorter commute
Sandy Hook, CT 06482 90%101$159,828$499,200$285 larger
Long Valley, NJ 07853 90%189$175,792$605,000$302 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger
Monkton, MD 21111 90%317$136,304$607,200$235 pricier homes ($87K more)
Ringoes, NJ 08551 89%206$162,617$595,800$314 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Goshen, CT 06756 88%82$160,815$478,200$324 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Pittstown, NJ 08867 88%204$204,583$601,600$276 higher income ($46K more) · pricier homes ($81K more)
Parkton, MD 21120 88%316$162,052$580,900$237 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · younger residents
Amherst, NH 03031 87%31$153,125$537,300$289 larger
Califon, NJ 07830 87%193$180,852$656,400$297 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger
Hampton, NJ 08827 87%201$135,625$443,400$270 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Campbell Hall, NY 10916 87%140$135,556$492,400$295 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 5 min longer commute
Churchville, MD 21028 87%303$137,586$512,400$279 6 min shorter commute
Riva, MD 21140 87%345$170,156$634,700$298 pricier homes ($114K more)
West Kingston, RI 02892 86%67$135,809$490,600$269 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · newer homes
Canterbury, NH 03224 86%65$138,125$438,500$245 cheaper homes ($82K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Broad Run, VA 20137 86%395$191,974$720,900$355 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($200K more) · smaller
Loretto, MN 55357 86%1,099$152,500$530,200$245 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Lyons, CO 80540 86%1,730$139,521$795,500$371 pricier homes ($275K more)
Auburn, NH 03032 85%46$153,253$600,300$294 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Andover, NJ 07821 85%181$141,860$431,500$292 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · younger residents

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.