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 Ashland, MA 01721

Ashland: median income $127,539, home value $611,700, $353/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Flemington, NJ 08822 90%213$137,788$536,900$310 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Hillsborough, NJ 08844 90%205$153,556$547,700$340 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Trenton, NJ 08691 88%215$132,520$552,000$305 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Derwood, MD 20855 88%368$149,110$640,300$297 pricier homes ($29K more) · more walkable
Annandale, NJ 08801 86%210$149,839$522,000$290 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Somerset, NJ 08873 86%199$124,972$465,800$333 cheaper homes ($146K less) · larger
East Brunswick, NJ 08816 85%198$143,586$522,700$357 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · more walkable
Flanders, NJ 07836 84%194$151,915$558,700$330 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Newtown, PA 18940 84%228$157,414$655,000$316 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Crofton, MD 21114 84%354$141,344$490,400$260 cheaper homes ($121K less) · younger residents
Annapolis, MD 21403 84%349$123,329$582,500$366 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 84%1,224$117,373$573,800$350 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852 83%206$133,209$523,000$331 cheaper homes ($89K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Hackettstown, NJ 07840 82%200$105,866$396,100$302 cheaper homes ($216K less) · larger
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 82%200$168,696$591,200$369 higher income ($41K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Clinton, NJ 08809 82%211$131,250$420,500$325 cheaper homes ($191K less) · smaller
Nanuet, NY 10954 82%154$116,332$533,000$383 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Warwick, NY 10990 82%164$125,870$501,600$312 cheaper homes ($110K less) · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328 82%1,225$126,380$578,300$357 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Bethel, CT 06801 81%117$116,541$434,600$296 cheaper homes ($177K less)
Dayton, NJ 08810 81%204$151,902$496,600$361 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 81%123$150,505$680,200$382 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Harleysville, PA 19438 81%246$138,134$480,300$246 cheaper homes ($131K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Dumfries, VA 22025 81%399$150,306$528,600$236 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Exeter, NH 03833 80%57$119,393$480,500$354 cheaper homes ($131K less) · 11 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.