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 Norwell, MA 02061

Norwell: median income $188,699, home value $865,700, $425/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lincroft, NJ 07738 89%213$189,000$807,300$470 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · more walkable
Easton, CT 06612 87%142$222,604$783,100$323 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($83K less) · older residents
Wilton, CT 06897 87%150$242,199$928,800$449 higher income ($54K more) · pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
South Salem, NY 10590 87%154$211,734$795,600$409 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · older residents
Old Bethpage, NY 11804 87%167$190,469$848,500$534 smaller
Kendall Park, NJ 08824 86%228$174,776$628,000$360 cheaper homes ($238K less) · older residents
Ridgefield, CT 06877 85%150$179,219$836,200$399 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Warren, NJ 07059 85%218$212,479$921,500$440 pricier homes ($56K more) · older residents · newer homes
Harrington Park, NJ 07640 85%182$180,500$776,900$433 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · older residents
Martinsville, NJ 08836 85%222$229,726$743,700$376 higher income ($41K more) · cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller
North Salem, NY 10560 85%154$193,906$674,000$342 cheaper homes ($192K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
New City, NY 10956 85%178$177,952$662,400$380 cheaper homes ($203K less) · larger
Colts Neck, NJ 07722 84%217$198,994$917,200$474 pricier homes ($52K more) · older residents · newer homes
Township Of Washington, NJ 07676 83%186$180,133$664,000$432 cheaper homes ($202K less) · older residents
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677 83%185$213,981$946,400$468 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller
Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 83%213$202,944$785,300$504 cheaper homes ($80K less) · older residents · more walkable
Millington, NJ 07946 83%217$208,587$801,700$417 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · older residents
Commack, NY 11725 83%156$168,281$670,000$463 cheaper homes ($196K less) · larger
East Setauket, NY 11733 83%145$173,281$683,400$408 cheaper homes ($182K less) · larger · older residents
Stamford, CT 06903 82%158$204,028$911,000$370 pricier homes ($45K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Towaco, NJ 07082 82%201$205,023$702,900$410 cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller · older residents
Wyckoff, NJ 07481 82%191$203,988$925,700$502 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · older residents
Long Valley, NJ 07853 82%226$175,792$605,000$302 cheaper homes ($261K less) · older residents
Chester, NJ 07930 82%221$240,954$771,200$361 higher income ($52K more) · cheaper homes ($95K less) · older residents
Tappan, NY 10983 82%180$160,170$610,900$413 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($255K less) · smaller

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.