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 Lyme, NH 03768

Lyme: median income $133,906, home value $645,000, $357/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Falmouth, MA 02556 86%168$121,810$717,800$491 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger
South Hero, VT 05486 85%82$126,513$544,700$237 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Norwich, VT 05055 84%8$142,684$632,400$331 larger · younger residents
Long Lake, MN 55356 84%1,058$156,622$707,800$295 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Byfield, MA 01922 83%94$142,207$804,900$375 pricier homes ($160K more) · larger
Cataumet, MA 02534 83%166$137,066$685,600$407 pricier homes ($41K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Charlotte, VT 05445 83%64$144,375$695,300$377 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · more homeowners
Hinesburg, VT 05461 83%60$109,712$460,200$315 cheaper homes ($185K less) · larger
Hadley, MA 01035 82%101$119,259$511,000$341 cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger
Boylston, MA 01505 82%103$140,962$578,600$343 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Dorset, VT 05251 80%59$151,163$567,900$300 cheaper homes ($77K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97231 80%2,449$137,527$858,200$268 pricier homes ($213K more) · larger
Barnstable, MA 02630 78%173$116,895$721,500$549 pricier homes ($77K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 78%97$146,054$729,800$426 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger
Haydenville, MA 01039 77%101$116,429$423,100$403 cheaper homes ($222K less) · older residents
Essex, MA 01929 77%106$156,442$902,000$416 pricier homes ($257K more) · larger · more walkable
Jericho, VT 05465 77%61$114,677$477,400$303 cheaper homes ($168K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Rowley, MA 01969 76%98$132,734$667,300$375 larger · 7 min longer commute
North Yarmouth, ME 04097 76%98$129,267$496,500$340 cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Thetford Center, VT 05075 76%5$101,776$388,600$248 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($256K less)
Earlysville, VA 22936 76%510$142,338$589,400$251 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · newer homes
Maple Plain, MN 55359 76%1,064$129,250$537,300$248 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · younger residents
Leverett, MA 01054 75%93$104,688$435,500$316 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($210K less) · older residents
Cape Neddick, ME 03902 75%86$133,676$592,200$405 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Waitsfield, VT 05673 75%43$98,068$448,000$362 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($197K less) · larger

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.