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.

Reset

Towns most like Whitinsville, MA 01588

Whitinsville: median income $92,486, home value $427,100, $310/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wharton, NJ 07885 91%172$100,716$380,900$333 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Sayreville, NJ 08872 90%180$97,489$447,200$362 larger · newer homes
South Amboy, NJ 08879 89%177$92,786$389,800$360 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Walden, NY 12586 89%135$87,194$348,400$245 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Garnerville, NY 10923 87%136$100,469$471,400$332 pricier homes ($44K more) · younger residents
Middle Island, NY 11953 87%108$86,206$397,800$304 cheaper homes ($29K less) · newer homes
Nashua, NH 03064 86%47$96,393$423,200$284 7 min shorter commute
Haledon, NJ 07508 85%153$95,806$473,700$344 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Parlin, NJ 08859 85%179$99,882$445,800$372 larger
Coram, NY 11727 85%110$103,287$443,200$341 larger · newer homes
Hyde Park, NY 12538 85%117$86,230$322,100$285 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Lakewood, WA 98498 85%2,481$91,664$506,300$324 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Stratford, CT 06615 84%100$81,534$364,700$306 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Beacon, NY 12508 84%126$92,461$445,100$400 larger · 6 min longer commute
Fishkill, NY 12524 84%122$99,034$398,300$308 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents · newer homes
Avenel, NJ 07001 83%172$101,670$401,000$429 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · newer homes
Budd Lake, NJ 07828 83%181$103,320$457,700$325 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · newer homes
Middletown, NY 10941 83%145$99,238$348,200$255 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
New Windsor, NY 12553 83%131$92,757$362,300$272 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · newer homes
Carteret, NJ 07008 82%170$97,021$406,000$355 larger · more walkable
Seymour, CT 06483 81%89$107,708$370,000$242 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Highland, NY 12528 81%123$92,462$366,400$270 cheaper homes ($61K less) · newer homes
Souderton, PA 18964 81%229$96,143$356,100$253 cheaper homes ($71K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Temple Hills, MD 20748 81%359$83,162$384,300$237 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Naugatuck, CT 06770 80%83$96,208$259,000$230 cheaper homes ($168K less) · larger

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.