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 Newton, NH 03858

Newton: median income $138,487, home value $459,500, $290/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Staatsburg, NY 12580 95%162$134,583$403,800$287 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Eagle, WI 53119 95%881$117,759$416,500$292 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Dighton, MA 02715 94%73$140,066$489,900$391 pricier homes ($30K more)
Asbury, NJ 08802 94%254$135,689$461,700$261 Very close on everything we compare
Big Bend, WI 53103 94%868$137,083$397,700$259 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Perkiomenville, PA 18074 93%290$130,462$433,400$212 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Scandia, MN 55073 93%1,091$128,723$462,400$249 younger residents
Plympton, MA 02367 92%64$126,736$517,800$380 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Berkley, MA 02779 92%71$144,205$511,200$328 pricier homes ($52K more)
West Greenwich, RI 02817 92%90$135,625$535,400$274 pricier homes ($76K more)
New Hartford, CT 06057 92%123$117,906$380,200$284 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Columbia, CT 06237 92%104$127,000$361,500$243 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Quinton, VA 23141 92%490$119,535$397,600$230 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Valley City, OH 44280 92%569$130,167$386,000$204 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Newman Lake, WA 99025 92%2,228$118,712$517,100$251 pricier homes ($58K more)
Sturbridge, MA 01566 91%74$137,730$415,900$268 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Mendon, MA 01756 91%59$132,256$616,000$314 pricier homes ($157K more)
Rehoboth, MA 02769 91%71$138,214$563,000$323 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger
Foster, RI 02825 91%83$112,593$445,600$272 lower income ($26K less)
Hebron, CT 06248 91%107$134,435$376,200$239 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Oxford, CT 06478 91%146$128,953$472,400$285 larger
Glen Gardner, NJ 08826 91%249$123,750$451,700$256 Very close on everything we compare
Palo Cedro, CA 96073 91%2,604$120,469$567,000$274 pricier homes ($108K more) · younger residents
Hubbardston, MA 01452 90%55$123,500$371,600$311 cheaper homes ($88K less) · 6 min longer commute
Douglas, MA 01516 90%67$153,172$467,000$291 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.