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 Ipswich, MA 01938

Ipswich: median income $138,750, home value $745,400, $421/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 90%165$150,505$680,200$382 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Caldwell, NJ 07006 87%217$149,102$694,400$434 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · younger residents
Lambertville, NJ 08530 87%264$120,467$574,800$392 cheaper homes ($171K less) · smaller · older residents
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 86%226$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger · more walkable
Sayville, NY 11782 86%177$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($108K less) · more single-family homes
East Greenwich, RI 02818 85%78$139,217$613,500$342 cheaper homes ($132K less)
Valley Cottage, NY 10989 85%192$134,267$549,700$390 cheaper homes ($196K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 85%186$157,923$936,300$484 pricier homes ($191K more) · younger residents
Congers, NY 10920 84%191$145,567$582,800$375 cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Pearl River, NY 10965 84%198$132,660$596,700$395 cheaper homes ($149K less) · younger residents
Santa Rosa, CA 95405 84%2,693$118,299$788,000$455 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
North Kingstown, RI 02852 83%82$118,643$504,900$332 cheaper homes ($241K less) · larger
Ramsey, NJ 07446 83%203$160,996$697,300$450 cheaper homes ($48K less) · younger residents · more walkable
Park Ridge, NJ 07656 83%200$171,029$706,200$429 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($39K less) · more walkable
Belmar, NJ 07719 83%241$119,828$700,900$488 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · more walkable
Flanders, NJ 07836 83%236$151,915$558,700$330 cheaper homes ($187K less) · newer homes
Hauppauge, NY 11788 83%176$149,726$653,900$414 cheaper homes ($92K less) · more single-family homes
Boonton, NJ 07005 82%221$132,629$587,100$365 cheaper homes ($158K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Roseland, NJ 07068 82%220$164,458$665,700$419 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Fairfield, CT 06825 81%160$135,504$630,600$395 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger · younger residents
Oceanport, NJ 07757 81%231$126,094$757,700$524 smaller
Whippany, NJ 07981 81%224$149,893$614,100$444 cheaper homes ($131K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Saint James, NY 11780 81%172$144,577$723,200$466 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Ambler, PA 19002 81%285$143,600$602,100$292 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 81%866$134,724$599,900$331 cheaper homes ($146K 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.