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 Norfolk, MA 02056

Norfolk: median income $200,720, home value $725,200, $344/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jamison, PA 18929 92%234$179,380$627,700$274 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Brookeville, MD 20833 92%362$204,375$797,100$284 pricier homes ($72K more)
Davidsonville, MD 21035 92%355$188,347$831,500$273 pricier homes ($106K more)
Windham, NH 03087 91%48$189,583$723,300$322 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Long Valley, NJ 07853 91%201$175,792$605,000$302 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Kendall Park, NJ 08824 91%204$174,776$628,000$360 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($97K less)
Gaithersburg, MD 20882 91%364$184,136$737,400$241 older residents
Warren, NJ 07059 90%194$212,479$921,500$440 pricier homes ($196K more)
Ijamsville, MD 21754 90%367$182,188$647,300$236 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Pittstown, NJ 08867 89%216$204,583$601,600$276 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller
Purcellville, VA 20132 89%394$181,875$776,300$274 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · newer homes
Monrovia, MD 21770 89%364$183,571$632,500$240 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Woodbine, MD 21797 89%356$189,241$735,600$259 Very close on everything we compare
Colts Neck, NJ 07722 88%194$198,994$917,200$474 pricier homes ($192K more) · older residents
Marlboro, NJ 07746 88%197$207,689$701,800$372 larger · 6 min longer commute
Morganville, NJ 07751 88%196$181,205$715,600$381 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Chester, NJ 07930 88%196$240,954$771,200$361 higher income ($40K more) · pricier homes ($46K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Warrenton, VA 20187 88%411$176,435$646,400$239 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Poolesville, MD 20837 88%379$174,063$772,300$243 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Sandy Hook, CT 06482 87%110$159,828$499,200$285 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($226K less)
Millstone Township, NJ 08510 87%218$225,966$740,700$318 higher income ($25K more) · smaller · older residents
Millstone Township, NJ 08535 87%217$209,732$734,100$329 smaller
New City, NY 10956 87%153$177,952$662,400$380 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · older homes
Marriottsville, MD 21104 87%350$191,804$680,200$243 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Round Hill, VA 20141 86%397$210,563$736,700$287 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.