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 Charlotte, VT 05445

Charlotte: median income $144,375, home value $695,300, $377/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Sandwich, MA 02537 92%227$136,506$639,500$405 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Portland, OR 97231 90%2,387$137,527$858,200$268 pricier homes ($163K more)
North Hampton, NH 03862 88%151$144,583$670,400$496 Very close on everything we compare
Afton, MN 55001 88%963$133,581$673,900$243 Very close on everything we compare
West Newbury, MA 01985 87%154$179,500$808,200$387 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($113K more) · 6 min longer commute
Hollis, NH 03049 87%136$168,883$675,900$286 larger
Bridgewater, CT 06752 87%192$159,365$693,000$335 smaller
Richboro, PA 18954 87%297$159,857$626,700$265 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Long Lake, MN 55356 87%999$156,622$707,800$295 younger residents
Lyons, CO 80540 87%1,654$139,521$795,500$371 pricier homes ($100K more) · 8 min longer commute
Greenland, NH 03840 86%148$162,837$662,800$390 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Ringoes, NJ 08551 86%279$162,617$595,800$314 cheaper homes ($100K less) · 6 min longer commute
Wayne, IL 60184 86%774$163,750$642,700$239 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Barnstable, MA 02630 85%233$116,895$721,500$549 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Killingworth, CT 06419 85%206$140,655$446,200$281 cheaper homes ($249K less) · larger
Allentown, NJ 08501 85%295$146,182$588,800$312 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
North Falmouth, MA 02556 84%227$121,810$717,800$491 younger residents
Saunderstown, RI 02874 84%214$159,861$713,700$396 larger · younger residents
Auburn, NH 03032 84%131$153,253$600,300$294 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · younger residents
New London, NH 03257 84%88$107,000$559,000$346 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($136K less)
North Yarmouth, ME 04097 84%154$129,267$496,500$340 cheaper homes ($199K less)
Monkton, MD 21111 84%371$136,304$607,200$235 cheaper homes ($88K less) · 7 min longer commute
Earlysville, VA 22936 84%505$142,338$589,400$251 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · younger residents
Keswick, VA 22947 84%507$136,250$789,200$259 pricier homes ($94K more) · newer homes
Boylston, MA 01505 83%156$140,962$578,600$343 cheaper homes ($117K less) · more renters

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.