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 Burlington, MA 01803

Burlington: median income $146,436, home value $740,600, $441/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Greenwich, RI 02818 93%61$139,217$613,500$342 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Belmar, NJ 07719 93%220$119,828$700,900$488 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($40K less)
Sayville, NY 11782 93%156$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller
Caldwell, NJ 07006 92%196$149,102$694,400$434 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Edmonds, WA 98026 92%2,471$133,638$821,700$450 pricier homes ($81K more)
Seattle, WA 98155 91%2,471$131,540$816,400$460 pricier homes ($76K more) · younger residents
Park Ridge, NJ 07656 90%178$171,029$706,200$429 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 90%205$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($151K less)
Moorestown, NJ 08057 90%262$158,770$680,200$308 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Ramsey, NJ 07446 89%182$160,996$697,300$450 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Wayne, NJ 07470 89%191$153,056$612,700$382 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger · younger residents
Newbury Park, CA 91320 89%2,614$148,991$948,100$507 pricier homes ($208K more) · larger
Boonton, NJ 07005 88%199$132,629$587,100$365 cheaper homes ($154K less) · smaller · older homes
Saint James, NY 11780 88%151$144,577$723,200$466 smaller · more homeowners
Fullerton, CA 92835 88%2,571$143,817$1,052,500$603 pricier homes ($312K more)
Portsmouth, RI 02871 87%63$116,831$597,000$392 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($144K less) · smaller
Clark, NJ 07066 87%207$133,504$609,600$413 cheaper homes ($131K less) · smaller
Butler, NJ 07405 87%196$135,169$569,800$342 cheaper homes ($171K less)
Westwood, NJ 07675 87%178$183,154$719,400$453 higher income ($37K more) · 5 min longer commute
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 87%144$150,505$680,200$382 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Anaheim, CA 92807 87%2,566$138,741$963,200$610 pricier homes ($223K more)
Benicia, CA 94510 87%2,663$121,204$810,000$431 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($69K more)
Santa Rosa, CA 95405 87%2,678$118,299$788,000$455 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($47K more)
Whippany, NJ 07981 86%203$149,893$614,100$444 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Pearl River, NY 10965 86%176$132,660$596,700$395 cheaper homes ($144K less) · smaller · older 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.