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 Chelmsford, MA 01824

Chelmsford: median income $140,050, home value $619,700, $384/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Butler, NJ 07405 95%193$135,169$569,800$342 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Denville, NJ 07834 94%200$156,902$555,600$418 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Pearl River, NY 10965 94%173$132,660$596,700$395 smaller
Hauppauge, NY 11788 94%155$149,726$653,900$414 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Boonton, NJ 07005 92%196$132,629$587,100$365 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Rockaway, NJ 07866 92%199$131,403$457,400$329 cheaper homes ($162K less)
Sayville, NY 11782 92%156$147,672$637,300$507 smaller
East Greenwich, RI 02818 91%65$139,217$613,500$342 Very close on everything we compare
Fairfield, CT 06825 91%137$135,504$630,600$395 Very close on everything we compare
Middletown, NJ 07748 91%208$152,981$600,600$413 6 min longer commute
Clark, NJ 07066 90%205$133,504$609,600$413 smaller
Wayne, NJ 07470 90%187$153,056$612,700$382 larger · more walkable
Saint James, NY 11780 89%150$144,577$723,200$466 pricier homes ($104K more) · smaller · older residents
Smithtown, NY 11787 89%154$143,101$679,800$424 pricier homes ($60K more)
Arnold, MD 21012 89%363$139,432$563,800$270 cheaper homes ($56K less) · newer homes
Caldwell, NJ 07006 88%193$149,102$694,400$434 pricier homes ($75K more)
Congers, NY 10920 88%166$145,567$582,800$375 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Morrisville, PA 19067 88%244$133,630$507,900$287 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger
Cheshire, CT 06410 87%109$145,179$438,900$262 cheaper homes ($181K less)
Brookfield, CT 06804 87%131$148,945$480,200$283 cheaper homes ($140K less)
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 87%218$168,696$591,200$369 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($29K less) · newer homes
Flemington, NJ 08822 87%230$137,788$536,900$310 cheaper homes ($83K less) · newer homes
East Islip, NY 11730 87%159$145,652$594,200$444 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 87%257$128,295$560,200$257 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Annapolis, MD 21409 87%361$147,151$535,500$286 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 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.