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 Acton, MA 01720

Acton: median income $159,010, home value $814,300, $385/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ridgefield, CT 06877 90%133$179,219$836,200$399 Very close on everything we compare
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 88%134$150,505$680,200$382 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 86%203$192,857$799,900$439 higher income ($34K more) · newer homes
Westwood, NJ 07675 85%166$183,154$719,400$453 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Randolph, NJ 07869 85%197$169,497$665,700$351 cheaper homes ($149K less) · younger residents
Roseland, NJ 07068 83%187$164,458$665,700$419 cheaper homes ($149K less) · smaller
Ramsey, NJ 07446 83%170$160,996$697,300$450 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller · more walkable
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 81%193$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($224K less) · more walkable
Derwood, MD 20855 81%377$149,110$640,300$297 cheaper homes ($174K less) · more walkable
Newtown, PA 18940 80%238$157,414$655,000$316 cheaper homes ($159K less) · newer homes
Ambler, PA 19002 80%252$143,600$602,100$292 cheaper homes ($212K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Oak Park, CA 91377 79%2,593$163,085$1,036,900$571 pricier homes ($223K more) · smaller
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 78%210$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($223K less) · larger
Hillsborough, NJ 08844 78%215$153,556$547,700$340 cheaper homes ($267K less) · larger
Melville, NY 11747 78%154$159,540$757,800$486 cheaper homes ($57K less) · more homeowners
Malvern, PA 19355 78%270$169,417$692,300$315 cheaper homes ($122K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Blue Bell, PA 19422 78%255$158,288$611,900$274 cheaper homes ($202K less) · more walkable
Naperville, IL 60540 78%856$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($264K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Caldwell, NJ 07006 77%184$149,102$694,400$434 cheaper homes ($120K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more walkable
Wayne, PA 19087 77%264$171,179$748,200$364 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more walkable
Berwyn, PA 19312 77%267$204,384$855,000$376 higher income ($45K more) · pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Watchung, NJ 07069 76%201$171,705$883,300$405 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 76%197$183,655$718,200$475 cheaper homes ($96K less) · more walkable · older homes
Ellicott City, MD 21042 76%359$190,061$706,400$274 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Vienna, VA 22182 76%391$205,108$1,125,900$390 higher income ($46K more) · pricier homes ($312K more) · 6 min shorter commute

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.