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 Milford, MA 01757

Milford: median income $96,621, home value $478,100, $298/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Old Bridge, NJ 08857 94%189$109,312$486,600$372 Very close on everything we compare
Sayreville, NJ 08872 91%187$97,489$447,200$362 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Lanham, MD 20706 91%356$104,523$429,000$242 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Lakewood, WA 98498 91%2,486$91,664$506,300$324 pricier homes ($28K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Parlin, NJ 08859 90%186$99,882$445,800$372 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Beltsville, MD 20705 90%355$110,351$446,700$237 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 6 min shorter commute
New Windsor, NY 12553 88%138$92,757$362,300$272 cheaper homes ($116K less) · less walkable
Coram, NY 11727 87%116$103,287$443,200$341 cheaper homes ($35K less) · less walkable
Federal Way, WA 98023 87%2,476$104,893$589,900$320 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · newer homes
Walden, NY 12586 86%142$87,194$348,400$245 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller
Forest Grove, OR 97116 86%2,539$92,613$495,800$262 8 min shorter commute
Puyallup, WA 98371 86%2,475$97,242$556,800$323 pricier homes ($79K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Burlington, NJ 08016 85%225$98,463$339,100$227 cheaper homes ($139K less) · 7 min shorter commute
South Amboy, NJ 08879 85%184$92,786$389,800$360 cheaper homes ($88K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Garnerville, NY 10923 85%143$100,469$471,400$332 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Middletown, NY 10940 85%159$87,080$336,500$257 cheaper homes ($142K less) · larger
Patchogue, NY 11772 85%122$105,245$474,800$400 6 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22309 85%377$107,376$567,200$327 pricier homes ($89K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80232 85%1,749$96,217$521,600$251 pricier homes ($44K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Yucaipa, CA 92399 85%2,507$92,440$511,200$334 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Beacon, NY 12508 84%133$92,461$445,100$400 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Temple Hills, MD 20748 84%366$83,162$384,300$237 cheaper homes ($94K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Miami, FL 33186 84%1,246$93,462$465,400$338 larger · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Port Orchard, WA 98366 84%2,483$92,011$475,800$313 more single-family homes · newer homes
Naugatuck, CT 06770 83%91$96,208$259,000$230 cheaper homes ($219K less)

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.