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 Essex, MA 01929

Essex: median income $156,442, home value $902,000, $416/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Norwich, NY 11732 87%188$148,965$780,800$545 cheaper homes ($121K less) · 7 min longer commute
Park Ridge, NJ 07656 86%201$171,029$706,200$429 cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger
Stirling, NJ 07980 86%234$162,955$689,200$446 cheaper homes ($213K less) · younger residents
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 86%165$150,505$680,200$382 cheaper homes ($222K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Fort Washington, PA 19034 84%286$165,354$627,500$292 cheaper homes ($275K less) · larger
Pine Brook, NJ 07058 82%220$127,805$768,600$382 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($133K less) · larger
Watchung, NJ 07069 81%234$171,705$883,300$405 larger · 9 min longer commute
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 80%187$157,923$936,300$484 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Wilmington, DE 19807 80%318$153,341$936,900$299 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · older residents
Long Lake, MN 55356 80%1,145$156,622$707,800$295 cheaper homes ($194K less) · larger · more homeowners
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 80%869$134,724$599,900$331 cheaper homes ($302K less) · larger · newer homes
Falmouth, ME 04105 79%81$150,919$767,500$370 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger · newer homes
Roseland, NJ 07068 79%220$164,458$665,700$419 cheaper homes ($236K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
East Greenwich, RI 02818 78%76$139,217$613,500$342 cheaper homes ($289K less) · larger
Ramsey, NJ 07446 78%204$160,996$697,300$450 cheaper homes ($205K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Northvale, NJ 07647 78%197$128,542$602,800$451 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($299K less)
Norwood, NJ 07648 78%199$178,311$709,100$474 cheaper homes ($193K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Whippany, NJ 07981 78%225$149,893$614,100$444 cheaper homes ($288K less) · larger · more homeowners
Moorestown, NJ 08057 78%284$158,770$680,200$308 cheaper homes ($222K less) · larger
Paoli, PA 19301 78%302$167,348$550,100$344 cheaper homes ($352K less) · larger · more walkable
Berwyn, PA 19312 78%301$204,384$855,000$376 higher income ($48K more) · cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Wayzata, MN 55391 78%1,143$174,301$923,400$340 larger · newer homes
Lyme, NH 03768 77%106$133,906$645,000$357 cheaper homes ($257K less) · smaller · less walkable
Yarmouth, ME 04096 77%87$110,216$639,700$434 lower income ($46K less) · cheaper homes ($262K less) · larger
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 77%73$146,054$729,800$426 cheaper homes ($172K less) · larger · more homeowners

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.