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 Chilmark, MA 02535

Chilmark: median income $153,966, home value $1,888,000, $1,176/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 79%2,591$187,054$2M+*$1,153 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($112K more) · larger
Isle Of Palms, SC 29451 77%772$156,979$1,581,300$975 cheaper homes ($307K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Topanga, CA 90290 77%2,629$149,304$1,567,700$698 cheaper homes ($320K less) · larger · younger residents
Water Mill, NY 11976 76%89$180,250$2M+*$943 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($112K more) · 10 min shorter commute
Pebble Beach, CA 93953 75%2,730$142,763$2M+*$1,305 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · older residents
Southampton, NY 11968 74%92$156,219$1,326,600$963 cheaper homes ($561K less) · larger
Wilson, WY 83014 73%2,032$140,473$2M+*$1,274 pricier homes ($112K more) · 10 min shorter commute · more renters
Los Olivos, CA 93441 73%2,690$142,760$1,503,100$1,195 cheaper homes ($385K less) · smaller · older residents
El Granada, CA 94018 71%2,732$230,053$1,430,200— higher income ($76K more) · cheaper homes ($458K less) · larger
Sullivans Island, SC 29482 70%776$192,813$2M+*$1,204 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($112K more) · 12 min shorter commute
Alpine, NJ 07620 69%168$246,944$2M+*$792 higher income ($93K more) · pricier homes ($112K more)
Sag Harbor, NY 11963 69%85$127,746$1,208,000$1,004 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($680K less) · larger
Shelter Island, NY 11964 68%85$134,620$1,078,500$801 cheaper homes ($810K less) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Los Angeles, CA 90077 68%2,621$206,319$2M+*$970 higher income ($52K more) · pricier homes ($112K more) · larger
Carmel Valley, CA 93924 68%2,722$148,563$1,222,600$762 cheaper homes ($665K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 67%106$125,179$1,054,000$822 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($834K less) · larger
Montara, CA 94037 67%2,733$233,826$1,580,700$685 higher income ($80K more) · cheaper homes ($307K less)
Bodega Bay, CA 94923 67%2,740$147,546$1,186,500$910 cheaper homes ($702K less) · smaller · more renters
Honolulu, HI 96821 67%5,110$174,938$1,563,300$931 cheaper homes ($325K less) · larger · older homes
Montauk, NY 11954 66%66$142,961$1,356,600$1,185 cheaper homes ($531K less) · larger · younger residents
Villa Park, CA 92861 66%2,597$202,245$1,871,700$625 higher income ($48K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Beach Haven, NJ 08008 65%217$120,054$1,165,400$1,112 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($723K less) · larger
Fall City, WA 98024 65%2,512$160,641$1,107,100$473 cheaper homes ($781K less) · larger
Sea Girt, NJ 08750 64%192$134,167$1,356,700$846 cheaper homes ($531K less) · larger · older residents
Snowmass, CO 81654 64%1,904$141,111$1,122,000$1,462 cheaper homes ($766K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or more.”

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.