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 Franklin, NH 03235

Franklin: median income $71,775, home value $263,600, $250/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Port Jervis, NY 12771 95%210$68,136$261,100$234 larger
Ware, MA 01082 94%87$69,018$292,000$219 pricier homes ($28K more)
Danielson, CT 06239 93%114$74,267$277,500$264 Very close on everything we compare
Plainfield, CT 06374 91%123$71,882$248,700$194 Very close on everything we compare
Putnam, CT 06260 90%106$70,502$269,500$221 7 min shorter commute
Pemberton, NJ 08068 90%286$83,194$284,000$237 Very close on everything we compare
Dover Plains, NY 12522 90%154$76,157$301,300$264 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · newer homes
Athol, MA 01331 87%65$72,181$281,400$248 larger
Coxsackie, NY 12051 87%133$91,786$331,900$207 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
North Brookfield, MA 01535 86%84$79,285$359,100$251 pricier homes ($96K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Lisbon Falls, ME 04252 86%88$73,476$258,500$236 smaller · more single-family homes
Catskill, NY 12414 86%142$73,036$247,800$271 Very close on everything we compare
Palmerton, PA 18071 86%272$70,217$206,900$170 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older residents
Boyertown, PA 19512 86%298$79,885$274,200$208 larger
Orange, MA 01364 85%66$55,532$247,800$207 Very close on everything we compare
Sanford, ME 04073 84%45$72,917$282,900$269 larger · newer homes
Springfield, VT 05156 84%43$66,679$204,300$162 cheaper homes ($59K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Winsted, CT 06098 84%127$66,269$247,900$216 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Terryville, CT 06786 84%140$87,306$265,300$233 Very close on everything we compare
Hyde Park, NY 12538 84%162$86,230$322,100$285 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Watertown, WI 53094 84%857$73,443$237,500$194 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Springvale, ME 04083 83%42$72,207$272,000$246 smaller · more homeowners
Ellenville, NY 12428 83%184$63,145$238,400$199 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more walkable
Gardiner, ME 04345 82%107$77,410$242,800$258 more homeowners
Akron, PA 17501 82%326$78,182$258,900$199 smaller · 8 min shorter commute · 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.