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 Amherst, NH 03031

Amherst: median income $153,125, home value $537,300, $289/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sandy Hook, CT 06482 96%131$159,828$499,200$285 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Newtown, CT 06470 95%134$153,238$577,800$289 pricier homes ($41K more)
Kendall Park, NJ 08824 95%227$174,776$628,000$360 pricier homes ($91K more)
Monroe, CT 06468 94%134$157,250$503,200$275 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Medford, NJ 08055 94%266$155,710$496,400$259 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Glenmoore, PA 19343 94%288$160,256$567,700$267 pricier homes ($30K more)
Northborough, MA 01532 93%37$153,199$620,000$331 pricier homes ($83K more)
Ringoes, NJ 08551 93%235$162,617$595,800$314 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller
Long Valley, NJ 07853 92%217$175,792$605,000$302 pricier homes ($68K more)
Richboro, PA 18954 92%253$159,857$626,700$265 pricier homes ($89K more)
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 92%840$153,495$419,900$249 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Littleton, MA 01460 91%23$149,722$658,300$374 pricier homes ($121K more)
Sutton, MA 01590 91%51$147,015$523,100$276 Very close on everything we compare
Holliston, MA 01746 91%46$159,817$650,300$360 pricier homes ($113K more) · older homes
Upton, MA 01568 90%47$160,417$574,700$316 pricier homes ($37K more)
Georgetown, MA 01833 90%33$153,750$653,500$360 pricier homes ($116K more)
Brookfield, CT 06804 90%133$148,945$480,200$283 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Califon, NJ 07830 90%222$180,852$656,400$297 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($119K more) · smaller
Sparta, NJ 07871 90%201$167,654$479,700$310 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Annapolis, MD 21409 90%365$147,151$535,500$286 larger
Madison, CT 06443 89%119$168,462$584,900$344 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents
Silver Spring, MD 20905 89%382$159,740$656,700$251 pricier homes ($119K more) · larger
Monkton, MD 21111 89%345$136,304$607,200$235 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller
Medway, MA 02053 88%50$173,750$617,300$337 pricier homes ($80K more) · younger residents
Orange, CT 06477 88%131$142,325$491,500$290 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes

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.