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 Biddeford, ME 04005

Biddeford: median income $74,647, home value $396,000, $308/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Manchester, NH 03103 94%61$73,540$342,200$292 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Somersworth, NH 03878 90%26$75,136$317,900$256 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Kingston, NY 12401 90%210$69,305$319,700$275 cheaper homes ($76K less) · older residents
Nashua, NH 03060 89%71$79,855$362,600$302 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more renters
Manchester, NH 03104 89%59$88,897$392,200$280 Very close on everything we compare
Clinton, MA 01510 88%96$89,781$387,300$290 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Concord, NH 03301 86%56$86,840$371,300$268 Very close on everything we compare
Dover, NJ 07801 86%273$84,517$392,400$366 more walkable
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 86%214$63,652$301,700$229 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger
Fitchburg, MA 01420 85%92$72,780$335,300$246 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · more walkable
Taunton, MA 02780 85%114$74,471$413,900$326 larger
Manchester, NH 03102 85%61$74,327$343,300$277 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
West Springfield, MA 01089 84%145$69,371$321,500$249 cheaper homes ($75K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Webster, MA 01570 84%121$72,895$361,500$279 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 6 min longer commute
Ansonia, CT 06401 84%199$86,178$285,800$236 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Haverhill, MA 01832 83%58$83,041$429,000$320 pricier homes ($33K more) · more walkable · newer homes
Middletown, CT 06457 83%174$79,463$295,300$235 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · newer homes
Henrico, VA 23228 83%552$70,260$283,500$235 cheaper homes ($113K less) · newer homes
Vernon Rockville, CT 06066 82%152$85,356$275,500$226 cheaper homes ($121K less) · newer homes
Norwalk, CT 06854 82%224$86,679$460,500$436 pricier homes ($65K more) · newer homes
Newburgh, NY 12550 82%226$85,697$340,900$244 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Norfolk, VA 23503 82%545$67,649$293,100$223 cheaper homes ($103K less) · more walkable
Leominster, MA 01453 81%93$84,296$381,300$280 larger · older residents
Haverhill, MA 01830 81%57$78,571$467,000$311 pricier homes ($71K more) · more walkable
Nashua, NH 03064 81%70$96,393$423,200$284 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · older 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.