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 Walpole, MA 02081

Walpole: median income $156,250, home value $687,500, $396/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Randolph, NJ 07869 93%194$169,497$665,700$351 Very close on everything we compare
Ramsey, NJ 07446 92%167$160,996$697,300$450 Very close on everything we compare
Westwood, NJ 07675 92%162$183,154$719,400$453 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($32K more)
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 92%205$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 92%125$150,505$680,200$382 smaller
Derwood, MD 20855 91%372$149,110$640,300$297 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Melville, NY 11747 89%145$159,540$757,800$486 pricier homes ($70K more) · older residents
Fairfax, VA 22032 89%392$178,394$799,200$361 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Middletown, NJ 07748 88%192$152,981$600,600$413 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Morganville, NJ 07751 88%200$181,205$715,600$381 pricier homes ($28K more) · 6 min longer commute
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 88%190$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Pennington, NJ 08534 88%222$175,573$573,000$324 cheaper homes ($115K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Kendall Park, NJ 08824 88%209$174,776$628,000$360 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 88%143$173,573$617,900$417 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Newtown, PA 18940 88%232$157,414$655,000$316 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Springfield, VA 22153 88%392$174,228$693,600$344 larger
Ridgefield, CT 06877 87%130$179,219$836,200$399 pricier homes ($149K more) · less walkable
Butler, NJ 07405 87%182$135,169$569,800$342 cheaper homes ($118K less)
East Brunswick, NJ 08816 87%202$143,586$522,700$357 cheaper homes ($165K less) · larger
Flemington, NJ 08822 87%218$137,788$536,900$310 cheaper homes ($151K less) · larger
Watchung, NJ 07069 86%196$171,705$883,300$405 pricier homes ($196K more) · smaller · older residents
Holmdel, NJ 07733 86%194$166,849$843,300$413 pricier homes ($156K more) · older residents
Hillsborough, NJ 08844 86%210$153,556$547,700$340 cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger
Saint James, NY 11780 86%132$144,577$723,200$466 pricier homes ($36K more)
Silver Spring, MD 20905 86%367$159,740$656,700$251 cheaper homes ($31K less)

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.