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 Topsfield, MA 01983

Topsfield: median income $195,718, home value $853,400, $402/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Millington, NJ 07946 93%229$208,587$801,700$417 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Bernardsville, NJ 07924 90%229$236,042$785,100$472 higher income ($40K more) · cheaper homes ($68K less)
Old Bethpage, NY 11804 90%183$190,469$848,500$534 Very close on everything we compare
Hillsdale, NJ 07642 89%195$186,688$677,500$447 cheaper homes ($176K less) · larger
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677 89%195$213,981$946,400$468 pricier homes ($93K more) · 6 min longer commute
Lincroft, NJ 07738 88%229$189,000$807,300$470 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 8 min longer commute
Chester, NJ 07930 88%231$240,954$771,200$361 higher income ($45K more) · cheaper homes ($82K less) · newer homes
South Salem, NY 10590 88%164$211,734$795,600$409 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
East Setauket, NY 11733 87%162$173,281$683,400$408 cheaper homes ($170K less) · larger
Berwyn, PA 19312 87%294$204,384$855,000$376 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Easton, CT 06612 86%154$222,604$783,100$323 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($70K less) · 5 min longer commute
Wyckoff, NJ 07481 85%201$203,988$925,700$502 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Harrington Park, NJ 07640 85%193$180,500$776,900$433 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 8 min longer commute
Colts Neck, NJ 07722 85%233$198,994$917,200$474 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · older residents
Pennington, NJ 08534 85%255$175,573$573,000$324 cheaper homes ($280K less) · larger
Martinsville, NJ 08836 85%234$229,726$743,700$376 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller
Brookeville, MD 20833 85%398$204,375$797,100$284 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Alexandria, VA 22308 85%419$212,545$914,400$420 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Nashville, TN 37220 85%958$180,417$818,200$392 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Saunderstown, RI 02874 84%82$159,861$713,700$396 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($140K less) · newer homes
Cumberland Center, ME 04021 84%87$172,468$579,000$388 cheaper homes ($274K less) · newer homes
Township Of Washington, NJ 07676 84%197$180,133$664,000$432 cheaper homes ($189K less)
Long Lake, MN 55356 84%1,136$156,622$707,800$295 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($146K less)
Warren, NJ 07059 83%230$212,479$921,500$440 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Watchung, NJ 07069 83%228$171,705$883,300$405 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute

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.