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 Peterborough, NH 03458

Peterborough: median income $98,684, home value $413,600, $278/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nashotah, WI 53058 84%831$104,444$584,900$280 pricier homes ($171K more) · smaller
Olympia, WA 98506 83%2,461$91,596$490,900$298 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger
Leeds, MA 01053 82%53$92,582$356,900$299 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Florence, MA 01062 82%54$87,588$421,000$358 more homeowners
Getzville, NY 14068 82%344$98,750$365,300$221 cheaper homes ($48K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Lenox, MA 01240 81%76$107,826$470,400$314 pricier homes ($57K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Camden, ME 04843 81%171$82,344$520,600$375 pricier homes ($107K more) · more homeowners
Yellow Springs, OH 45387 81%654$96,042$332,900$238 cheaper homes ($81K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Millbrook, NY 12545 80%117$101,354$516,900$439 pricier homes ($103K more) · smaller · older homes
Pawcatuck, CT 06379 79%105$95,066$406,100$286 younger residents
Branford, CT 06405 79%119$105,225$401,200$286 larger · more walkable
Shalimar, FL 32579 79%1,178$104,510$444,300$232 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · younger residents
Shawnee, KS 66217 79%1,213$93,651$456,400$183 pricier homes ($43K more) · newer homes
Shelburne, VT 05482 78%122$115,963$588,100$310 pricier homes ($175K more) · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55437 78%1,072$95,718$381,700$202 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · younger residents
Freeport, ME 04032 77%114$107,326$508,400$372 pricier homes ($95K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Kent, CT 06757 77%111$95,186$406,100$436 smaller · older residents
Trenton, NJ 08628 77%234$108,158$369,500$223 cheaper homes ($44K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Chatham, NY 12037 77%91$89,844$343,900$263 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Tivoli, NY 12583 77%115$79,583$462,500$255 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · younger residents
Indianapolis, IN 46280 77%761$91,152$324,400$217 cheaper homes ($89K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Cedarburg, WI 53012 77%809$96,090$422,700$273 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Hadley, MA 01035 76%48$119,259$511,000$341 pricier homes ($97K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
Montpelier, VT 05602 76%100$81,320$360,000$259 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · younger residents
Deep River, CT 06417 76%107$90,253$362,200$286 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · younger residents

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.