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 Madbury, NH 03823

Madbury: median income $148,365, home value $476,900, $295/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Malcolm, NE 68402 88%1,334$123,000$449,000$241 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Fairfax, VT 05454 87%148$128,212$372,400$286 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger
Northbridge, MA 01534 83%80$141,250$481,200$265 larger · older residents
Tyngsboro, MA 01879 82%42$129,348$552,500$331 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Fogelsville, PA 18051 82%301$139,506$459,600$213 larger · older residents
Richmond, VT 05477 81%131$108,971$424,400$295 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Center Valley, PA 18034 81%294$153,200$475,900$235 larger
North Prairie, WI 53153 81%880$152,543$430,100$271 cheaper homes ($47K less) · more single-family homes
Maple Plain, MN 55359 81%1,133$129,250$537,300$248 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Exeter, RI 02822 80%116$112,813$520,100$345 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Stirling, NJ 07980 80%251$162,955$689,200$446 pricier homes ($212K more)
White Marsh, MD 21162 80%386$157,813$451,600$216 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Granger, IA 50109 80%1,167$118,669$370,100$251 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger
Van Meter, IA 50261 80%1,176$155,278$374,100$294 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Sutton, MA 01590 79%83$147,015$523,100$276 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · older residents
Cranston, RI 02921 79%102$147,204$535,800$293 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · older residents
East Granby, CT 06026 79%126$119,375$388,000$233 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
East Lyme, CT 06333 79%141$129,083$439,000$273 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · older residents
Salem, CT 06420 79%134$123,425$405,800$245 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Polk City, IA 50226 79%1,160$153,011$417,500$297 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · newer homes
Oronoco, MN 55960 79%1,076$130,227$481,200$214 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Assonet, MA 02702 78%95$153,038$516,100$293 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Wyoming, RI 02898 78%121$119,038$424,300$300 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($53K less) · older residents
Middlebury, CT 06762 78%158$133,487$476,400$253 larger · older residents
Burnt Hills, NY 12027 78%150$120,000$344,100$276 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($133K 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.