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 Dartmouth, MA 02748

South Dartmouth: median income $97,361, home value $521,800, $377/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Westerly, RI 02891 94%45$97,110$470,000$369 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Niantic, CT 06357 93%66$93,026$397,300$301 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Meredith, NH 03253 91%145$84,719$482,700$354 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Rhinebeck, NY 12572 91%152$94,859$483,100$472 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Tiverton, RI 02878 90%11$106,036$411,900$306 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Greenville, RI 02828 89%36$97,196$440,900$291 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Eliot, ME 03903 89%109$101,522$498,900$363 smaller · newer homes
Westbrook, CT 06498 88%79$91,202$434,300$328 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller · older residents
Skaneateles, NY 13152 88%293$104,211$461,800$411 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Pawcatuck, CT 06379 87%47$95,066$406,100$286 cheaper homes ($116K less) · younger residents
Oakdale, NY 11769 87%125$123,558$607,000$389 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($85K more)
Fairfield, NJ 07004 86%178$115,980$688,500$393 pricier homes ($167K more)
Germantown, NY 12526 86%153$97,679$485,000$361 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · less walkable
Wolfeboro, NH 03894 85%141$94,349$548,600$347 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · newer homes
Waterford, CT 06385 85%62$100,484$365,400$302 cheaper homes ($156K less) · younger residents
Carson City, NV 89703 85%2,540$85,230$626,500$330 pricier homes ($105K more) · newer homes
Olympia, WA 98506 85%2,545$91,596$490,900$298 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · newer homes
North Smithfield, RI 02896 84%40$108,983$457,400$295 cheaper homes ($64K less) · younger residents
Kennebunk, ME 04043 84%128$107,804$487,700$378 cheaper homes ($34K less) · newer homes
Chester, CT 06412 84%77$109,191$442,200$260 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Litchfield, CT 06759 84%115$105,957$448,900$277 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Lake George, NY 12845 84%188$100,774$355,900$325 cheaper homes ($166K less) · smaller
East Aurora, NY 14052 84%399$99,970$343,700$258 cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger
Merritt Island, FL 32952 84%1,068$102,726$425,700$253 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
North Kingstown, RI 02852 83%25$118,643$504,900$332 larger · younger residents

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.