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 Westford, MA 01886

Westford: median income $187,198, home value $748,500, $371/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ridgefield, CT 06877 94%138$179,219$836,200$399 pricier homes ($88K more)
Ellicott City, MD 21042 92%364$190,061$706,400$274 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Pennington, NJ 08534 91%233$175,573$573,000$324 cheaper homes ($176K less) · smaller
Kendall Park, NJ 08824 91%220$174,776$628,000$360 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller
Warren, NJ 07059 90%208$212,479$921,500$440 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($173K more)
Randolph, NJ 07869 90%201$169,497$665,700$351 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Barrington, IL 60010 90%851$177,566$638,100$255 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger
Franklin, TN 37069 89%943$157,939$815,600$349 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($67K more)
Clifton, VA 20124 88%407$221,060$884,800$300 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($136K more) · smaller
Lake Forest, IL 60045 88%836$233,125$923,500$404 higher income ($46K more) · pricier homes ($175K more)
Naperville, IL 60565 88%855$164,447$519,900$267 cheaper homes ($229K less) · larger
East Setauket, NY 11733 87%143$173,281$683,400$408 cheaper homes ($65K less) · older homes
Doylestown, PA 18902 87%244$161,267$668,200$301 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($80K less)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33327 87%1,246$159,388$724,500$412 lower income ($28K less) · newer homes
Evergreen, CO 80439 87%1,765$156,218$900,300$369 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($152K more) · older residents
Bedford, NH 03110 86%25$167,418$612,100$302 cheaper homes ($136K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Belle Mead, NJ 08502 86%222$227,242$816,700$384 higher income ($40K more) · pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Chadds Ford, PA 19317 86%286$174,408$624,900$245 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller
Fairfax, VA 22032 86%402$178,394$799,200$361 pricier homes ($51K more) · more walkable
Lake Zurich, IL 60047 86%848$176,081$541,300$263 cheaper homes ($207K less) · larger
Golden, CO 80403 86%1,758$151,276$838,000$344 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($90K more)
Windham, NH 03087 85%17$189,583$723,300$322 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller · newer homes
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 85%208$192,857$799,900$439 pricier homes ($51K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 85%215$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33332 85%1,250$172,730$909,000$395 pricier homes ($161K more) · smaller · 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.