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 Pelham, NH 03076

Pelham: median income $135,956, home value $552,600, $312/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lakeville, MA 02347 96%64$133,984$565,900$358 Very close on everything we compare
Stevensville, MD 21666 95%371$123,645$494,300$278 cheaper homes ($58K less)
East Bridgewater, MA 02333 94%52$133,741$509,200$322 cheaper homes ($43K less)
West Greenwich, RI 02817 94%77$135,625$535,400$274 smaller
Oxford, CT 06478 94%130$128,953$472,400$285 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Charlton, MA 01507 93%53$117,587$427,500$272 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Manorville, NY 11949 93%151$138,864$601,600$339 pricier homes ($49K more)
Madera, CA 93636 93%2,572$133,274$542,100$268 Very close on everything we compare
Damascus, OR 97089 93%2,503$123,689$633,600$300 pricier homes ($81K more)
Pepperell, MA 01463 92%15$123,911$482,100$298 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Douglas, MA 01516 92%52$153,172$467,000$291 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Mendon, MA 01756 92%45$132,256$616,000$314 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller
Rehoboth, MA 02769 91%61$138,214$563,000$323 older residents
Gorham, ME 04038 91%78$112,312$460,900$301 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 91%242$134,038$580,900$325 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Miller Place, NY 11764 91%151$146,813$615,900$377 pricier homes ($63K more)
Sutton, MA 01590 90%48$147,015$523,100$276 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Groveland, MA 01834 90%14$141,487$610,900$389 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Hanson, MA 02341 90%51$132,250$536,100$337 older homes
Cranston, RI 02921 90%68$147,204$535,800$293 Very close on everything we compare
Gig Harbor, WA 98329 90%2,483$110,316$518,700$356 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($34K less)
Lancaster, MA 01523 89%27$134,833$519,100$288 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · older homes
Rutland, MA 01543 89%41$145,707$462,800$286 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Norton, MA 02766 89%53$124,535$501,400$312 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Berkley, MA 02779 89%63$144,205$511,200$328 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller

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.