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 Claremont, NH 03743

Claremont: median income $59,625, home value $206,600, $190/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ellenville, NY 12428 93%155$63,145$238,400$199 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Putnam, CT 06260 92%103$70,502$269,500$221 pricier homes ($63K more)
Batavia, NY 14020 92%296$62,655$160,800$147 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Columbia, PA 17512 92%314$66,684$245,200$169 pricier homes ($39K more)
Springfield, VT 05156 91%8$66,679$204,300$162 smaller
Martinsburg, WV 25401 91%398$51,909$229,200$173 Very close on everything we compare
Auburn, ME 04210 90%116$66,647$282,000$208 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger
Port Jervis, NY 12771 90%182$68,136$261,100$234 pricier homes ($55K more)
Hudson Falls, NY 12839 90%62$71,423$173,000$209 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Lebanon, PA 17046 90%295$62,221$191,000$167 larger
Torrington, CT 06790 89%114$70,912$215,600$191 larger
Milton, PA 17847 89%282$58,775$197,100$137 newer homes
Center Line, MI 48015 89%544$54,703$156,600$142 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Mount Clemens, MI 48043 89%535$52,161$179,400$124 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Waterville, ME 04901 88%158$57,403$204,700$181 larger
Winsted, CT 06098 88%106$66,269$247,900$216 pricier homes ($41K more) · older residents
Salem, NJ 08079 88%308$54,641$196,700$125 Very close on everything we compare
Amsterdam, NY 12010 88%98$63,696$180,200$134 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Athens, PA 18810 88%232$58,750$208,400$139 smaller
Augusta, ME 04330 87%144$54,775$217,300$211 larger · newer homes
Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819 87%75$62,411$197,500$171 smaller
Binghamton, NY 13901 87%199$55,523$158,300$131 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Adams, MA 01220 86%65$58,929$209,900$193 smaller · older homes
Meriden, CT 06451 86%129$71,255$239,800$217 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · more walkable
Paulsboro, NJ 08066 86%286$65,070$200,200$207 smaller · younger residents · more walkable

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.