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 Thornton, NH 03285

Thornton: median income $90,022, home value $351,900, $254/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lanesborough, MA 01237 94%125$90,898$303,700$274 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Harmony, PA 16037 92%482$93,077$348,200$205 larger
Horse Shoe, NC 28742 92%827$99,007$414,600$237 pricier homes ($63K more)
Orrington, ME 04474 91%152$94,556$309,000$192 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Wiscasset, ME 04578 90%98$81,063$327,400$234 larger
Chestertown, NY 12817 90%109$93,393$327,600$316 older residents
Mc Gaheysville, VA 22840 90%531$95,667$382,500$257 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · newer homes
Manchester, ME 04351 89%94$92,031$299,600$210 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Blue Hill, ME 04614 89%156$80,377$399,500$276 pricier homes ($48K more)
East Berlin, CT 06023 89%167$100,317$342,600$242 smaller
Marmora, NJ 08223 89%357$107,131$420,300$272 pricier homes ($68K more)
Mc Henry, MD 21541 89%499$82,955$342,500$258 smaller · younger residents
Bellaire, MI 49615 89%673$79,469$292,300$251 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents
Lincolnville, ME 04849 88%130$80,377$360,600$329 more single-family homes
Bristol, VT 05443 88%73$88,594$356,600$238 larger
New Haven, VT 05472 88%77$92,537$378,000$217 pricier homes ($26K more)
Landisville, PA 17538 88%360$86,719$299,300$188 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Harbor Springs, MI 49740 88%665$89,250$363,500$312 larger · older residents
Deerwood, MN 56444 88%1,094$77,500$365,200$238 more single-family homes
Belgrade, ME 04917 87%97$88,338$312,200$238 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more single-family homes
Ocean View, NJ 08230 87%361$115,152$410,200$245 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Valatie, NY 12184 87%144$98,622$355,200$276 larger
Clarence, NY 14031 87%355$103,750$343,700$249 larger
Fairview, NC 28730 87%812$102,900$433,300$267 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger
Williams Bay, WI 53191 87%854$75,833$414,600$282 pricier homes ($63K more)

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.