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 South Chatham, MA 02659

South Chatham: median income $109,453, home value $777,000, $641/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, CT 06793 87%169$121,250$1,026,800$523 pricier homes ($250K more)
Monte Rio, CA 95462 81%2,766$85,536$680,900$720 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Forest Knolls, CA 94933 80%2,762$133,006$862,100$631 pricier homes ($85K more) · 10 min longer commute
Ogunquit, ME 03907 79%113$114,259$875,700$595 pricier homes ($99K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Island Heights, NJ 08732 79%247$110,000$561,200$390 cheaper homes ($216K less) · younger residents
Orient, NY 11957 78%123$94,261$973,700$588 pricier homes ($197K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Sharon, CT 06069 76%177$101,067$611,200$524 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger · more renters
Cutchogue, NY 11935 76%135$143,750$915,900$684 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($139K more) · larger
Fontana, WI 53125 74%950$112,500$593,800$434 cheaper homes ($183K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Kittery Point, ME 03905 73%104$140,730$541,100$934 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($236K less) · larger
Longport, NJ 08403 73%288$110,625$1,054,900$817 pricier homes ($278K more) · 6 min longer commute · more walkable
Jamestown, RI 02835 72%71$140,625$842,400$616 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
East Marion, NY 11939 72%126$102,500$857,800$652 pricier homes ($81K more) · older residents · 12 min longer commute
Woodstock, NY 12498 72%212$94,210$627,700$470 cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger
Little Compton, RI 02837 71%60$134,750$783,400$480 higher income ($25K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Mattituck, NY 11952 71%139$120,139$764,300$531 larger · younger residents
Rye, NH 03870 70%99$140,938$990,700$601 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($214K more) · larger
Center Sandwich, NH 03227 68%164$146,917$452,000— higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($325K less)
Harpswell, ME 04079 68%145$91,969$612,400$500 cheaper homes ($165K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Seaside Park, NJ 08752 68%244$78,750$802,300$732 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
East Quogue, NY 11942 68%145$93,710$844,100$675 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · younger residents
Southold, NY 11971 68%132$129,507$843,300$587 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · younger residents
Saint Michaels, MD 21663 68%383$89,775$650,500$438 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger · newer homes
Northport, MI 49670 68%817$116,133$559,200$483 cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger · less walkable
Grand Lake, CO 80447 68%1,859$96,000$632,400$444 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute

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.