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 Rowley, MA 01969

Rowley: median income $132,734, home value $667,300, $375/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Congers, NY 10920 93%190$145,567$582,800$375 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Oakdale, NY 11769 92%178$123,558$607,000$389 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Valley Cottage, NY 10989 91%191$134,267$549,700$390 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Whippany, NJ 07981 90%223$149,893$614,100$444 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Northvale, NJ 07647 88%195$128,542$602,800$451 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Oceanport, NJ 07757 88%231$126,094$757,700$524 pricier homes ($90K more) · 5 min longer commute
Saint James, NY 11780 88%172$144,577$723,200$466 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
North Hampton, NH 03862 87%19$144,583$670,400$496 Very close on everything we compare
Freeport, ME 04032 87%89$107,326$508,400$372 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($159K less)
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 87%212$117,959$539,000$431 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger
Farmingdale, NJ 07727 87%242$129,931$652,400$365 newer homes
Lambertville, NJ 08530 87%263$120,467$574,800$392 cheaper homes ($93K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889 87%247$157,781$542,300$319 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 87%165$150,505$680,200$382 larger · younger residents
Red Hook, NY 12571 87%158$118,967$431,200$328 cheaper homes ($236K less) · larger
Delafield, WI 53018 87%884$124,595$521,400$284 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Yarmouth, ME 04096 86%84$110,216$639,700$434 cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents
Stonington, CT 06378 86%107$135,714$593,400$407 cheaper homes ($74K less) · older residents
Fairfield, NJ 07004 86%216$115,980$688,500$393 7 min shorter commute
Orangeburg, NY 10962 86%195$148,500$712,300$403 pricier homes ($45K more) · 6 min longer commute
Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 86%1,238$115,799$616,000$491 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more apartments and townhomes
New London, NH 03257 85%73$107,000$559,000$346 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($108K less)
Kennebunk, ME 04043 85%50$107,804$487,700$378 cheaper homes ($180K less) · larger
East Hanover, NJ 07936 85%221$149,583$702,800$409 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 85%526$120,662$677,600$403 older residents · 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.