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.

Reset

Towns most like Franklin, MA 02038

Franklin: median income $145,773, home value $611,700, $343/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Flemington, NJ 08822 97%209$137,788$536,900$310 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Hillsborough, NJ 08844 96%201$153,556$547,700$340 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 95%197$168,696$591,200$369 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328 93%1,216$126,380$578,300$357 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Newtown, PA 18940 92%224$157,414$655,000$316 pricier homes ($43K more)
East Brunswick, NJ 08816 91%194$143,586$522,700$357 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Chantilly, VA 20151 90%387$158,271$676,800$317 pricier homes ($65K more) · more walkable
Derwood, MD 20855 90%364$149,110$640,300$297 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Pompano Beach, FL 33067 90%1,201$131,216$745,700$351 pricier homes ($134K more)
Chalfont, PA 18914 89%234$148,824$491,300$272 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller
Morrisville, PA 19067 89%221$133,630$507,900$287 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Arnold, MD 21012 89%340$139,432$563,800$270 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Randolph, NJ 07869 88%185$169,497$665,700$351 pricier homes ($54K more)
Harleysville, PA 19438 88%243$138,134$480,300$246 cheaper homes ($131K less)
Annapolis, MD 21409 88%338$147,151$535,500$286 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Pembroke Pines, FL 33028 88%1,221$119,091$581,400$335 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($30K less)
Ambler, PA 19002 87%238$143,600$602,100$292 older homes
Downingtown, PA 19335 87%267$143,249$494,100$234 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22310 87%378$166,061$659,700$355 pricier homes ($48K more) · more walkable
Naperville, IL 60540 87%859$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Londonderry, NH 03053 86%53$134,038$507,600$308 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Flanders, NJ 07836 86%191$151,915$558,700$330 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 86%181$153,762$589,900$398 smaller · older homes
Schwenksville, PA 19473 86%246$138,819$476,300$248 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller
Olney, MD 20832 86%360$168,524$627,000$290 more walkable

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.