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 Paxton, MA 01612

Paxton: median income $134,083, home value $472,300, $295/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Churchville, MD 21028 93%295$137,586$512,400$279 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Andover, NJ 07821 92%173$141,860$431,500$292 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Mont Vernon, NH 03057 91%43$156,250$518,400$275 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Bolton, CT 06043 91%46$126,364$367,600$257 cheaper homes ($105K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Bethany, CT 06524 91%82$166,236$418,000$257 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($54K less)
Ringwood, NJ 07456 91%147$152,414$449,800$302 larger
Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849 91%168$117,298$438,600$329 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Milford, NJ 08848 91%203$138,614$440,200$270 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Succasunna, NJ 07876 90%173$161,304$527,200$324 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Hampton, NJ 08827 90%194$135,625$443,400$270 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 7 min longer commute
Glen Arm, MD 21057 90%310$145,924$623,200$206 pricier homes ($151K more)
East Granby, CT 06026 89%50$119,375$388,000$233 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Mine Hill, NJ 07803 89%169$119,583$434,100$315 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Contoocook, NH 03229 88%63$137,386$506,100$287 pricier homes ($34K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Marlborough, CT 06447 88%54$142,105$379,100$227 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Orange, CT 06477 88%91$142,325$491,500$290 larger
Stanhope, NJ 07874 88%173$132,500$364,000$346 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Sandy Hook, CT 06482 87%92$159,828$499,200$285 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Glen Gardner, NJ 08826 87%190$123,750$451,700$256 older residents
Burnt Hills, NY 12027 87%109$120,000$344,100$276 cheaper homes ($128K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Maple Plain, MN 55359 87%1,101$129,250$537,300$248 pricier homes ($65K more) · 7 min shorter commute
West Kingston, RI 02892 86%57$135,809$490,600$269 newer homes
Auburn, NH 03032 86%56$153,253$600,300$294 pricier homes ($128K more) · newer homes
Deerfield, NH 03037 86%67$130,371$424,000$293 cheaper homes ($48K less) · newer homes
North Yarmouth, ME 04097 86%137$129,267$496,500$340 older residents · newer homes

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.