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 Merrimac, MA 01860

Merrimac: median income $123,054, home value $553,400, $329/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hampstead, NH 03841 93%9$104,044$510,100$307 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Chester, MD 21619 93%384$107,639$486,600$297 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Lincoln Park, NJ 07035 91%215$123,234$445,800$371 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Wanaque, NJ 07465 90%208$115,159$419,700$281 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Lafayette, NJ 07848 90%225$128,317$436,800$288 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller
Epping, NH 03042 89%15$104,220$436,900$319 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Pawling, NY 12564 88%159$111,324$446,800$266 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Wilton, NH 03086 87%38$113,750$381,600$284 cheaper homes ($172K less) · smaller
Kingston, NH 03848 86%6$105,330$492,900$317 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older residents
Woodbury, CT 06798 86%143$131,480$469,900$250 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Oakdale, NY 11769 86%182$123,558$607,000$389 pricier homes ($54K more) · older homes
Tarpon Springs, FL 34688 86%1,206$112,091$510,100$262 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more homeowners
North Smithfield, RI 02896 85%66$108,983$457,400$295 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Kennebunk, ME 04043 85%45$107,804$487,700$378 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · older residents
Port Monmouth, NJ 07758 85%231$115,298$530,000$401 smaller · more single-family homes
Kingston, WA 98346 85%2,480$114,779$612,800$348 pricier homes ($59K more) · more single-family homes
Hudson, NH 03051 84%21$124,213$438,900$298 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 84%213$117,959$539,000$431 larger
Brewster, NY 10509 84%165$116,831$458,300$291 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · younger residents
Goshen, NY 10924 84%197$110,938$454,300$277 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Bohemia, NY 11716 84%179$128,889$559,800$385 younger residents · older homes
Manorville, NY 11949 84%166$138,864$601,600$339 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Stevenson, WA 98648 84%2,484$96,696$555,500$380 lower income ($26K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Tiverton, RI 02878 83%83$106,036$411,900$306 cheaper homes ($142K less) · larger
Goffstown, NH 03045 83%31$119,205$384,600$294 cheaper homes ($169K less) · larger

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.