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 North Chelmsford, MA 01863

North Chelmsford: median income $144,875, home value $491,600, $360/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lincoln Park, NJ 07035 90%191$123,234$445,800$371 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 89%187$124,454$442,400$348 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Rockaway, NJ 07866 88%199$131,403$457,400$329 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Montrose, NY 10548 86%162$142,273$426,000$403 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · older homes
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 86%267$137,535$471,000$264 larger
Clinton, NJ 08809 83%228$131,250$420,500$325 cheaper homes ($71K less) · less walkable
Dunellen, NJ 08812 83%212$118,316$442,900$356 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($49K less)
Pearl River, NY 10965 83%173$132,660$596,700$395 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Bohemia, NY 11716 83%157$128,889$559,800$385 pricier homes ($68K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
La Grange, IL 60525 83%844$116,918$438,000$296 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Clark, NJ 07066 82%205$133,504$609,600$413 pricier homes ($118K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Trenton, NJ 08690 82%237$127,339$383,900$292 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · older residents
Valhalla, NY 10595 82%163$123,438$723,100$451 pricier homes ($232K more)
Nanuet, NY 10954 82%172$116,332$533,000$383 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Islip, NY 11751 81%162$116,559$563,100$434 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($72K more) · more single-family homes
Itasca, IL 60143 81%850$114,420$398,500$231 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($93K less)
Boonton, NJ 07005 80%196$132,629$587,100$365 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Clifton, NJ 07014 80%188$119,545$462,400$384 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Butler, NJ 07405 80%193$135,169$569,800$342 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Montvale, NJ 07645 80%175$178,269$709,700$466 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($218K more)
Bordentown, NJ 08505 80%243$112,845$362,500$263 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger
Suffern, NY 10901 80%175$108,041$542,000$370 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Holtsville, NY 11742 80%152$125,162$510,200$394 more single-family homes · less walkable
Fort Washington, PA 19034 80%262$165,354$627,500$292 pricier homes ($136K more)
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 80%267$147,418$537,400$279 pricier homes ($46K more)

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.