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 Contoocook, NH 03229

Contoocook: median income $137,386, home value $506,100, $287/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Maple Plain, MN 55359 95%1,095$129,250$537,300$248 pricier homes ($31K more)
Bolton, CT 06043 92%106$126,364$367,600$257 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Holden, MA 01520 91%60$148,125$478,300$296 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Boylston, MA 01505 90%59$140,962$578,600$343 pricier homes ($73K more)
Orange, CT 06477 90%149$142,325$491,500$290 larger · 5 min longer commute
Wilbraham, MA 01095 89%83$122,330$415,000$267 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
East Granby, CT 06026 89%102$119,375$388,000$233 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Middlebury, CT 06762 89%136$133,487$476,400$253 cheaper homes ($30K less) · more walkable
Paxton, MA 01612 88%63$134,083$472,300$295 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 8 min longer commute
Durham, CT 06422 88%130$158,857$424,800$267 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Milford, CT 06461 87%153$133,221$424,700$299 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Long Lake, MN 55356 87%1,090$156,622$707,800$295 pricier homes ($202K more) · newer homes
Hadley, MA 01035 86%73$119,259$511,000$341 more renters
Sutton, MA 01590 86%74$147,015$523,100$276 larger · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
North Yarmouth, ME 04097 86%87$129,267$496,500$340 5 min longer commute · newer homes
North Stonington, CT 06359 86%121$123,938$397,100$305 cheaper homes ($109K less) · older residents
Burnt Hills, NY 12027 86%113$120,000$344,100$276 cheaper homes ($162K less) · younger residents
Red Hook, NY 12571 86%137$118,967$431,200$328 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Seaford, VA 23696 86%484$142,788$427,100$227 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Mequon, WI 53097 86%820$135,929$499,800$266 younger residents · newer homes
Earlysville, VA 22936 85%498$142,338$589,400$251 pricier homes ($83K more) · newer homes
Lancaster, MA 01523 84%52$134,833$519,100$288 10 min longer commute
Cranston, RI 02921 84%100$147,204$535,800$293 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · newer homes
Hinesburg, VT 05461 84%105$109,712$460,200$315 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($46K less) · newer homes
Jericho, VT 05465 84%107$114,677$477,400$303 cheaper homes ($29K less) · newer 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.