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.

Reset

Towns most like Westford, VT 05494

Westford: median income $117,143, home value $412,900, $238/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Olivebridge, NY 12461 95%200$112,273$431,400$319 Very close on everything we compare
Brimfield, MA 01010 93%178$111,250$389,100$247 larger
Salem, CT 06420 91%219$123,425$405,800$245 larger
Deerfield, NH 03037 90%135$130,371$424,000$293 larger
Canterbury, NH 03224 90%113$138,125$438,500$245 pricier homes ($26K more)
Glen Gardner, NJ 08826 90%287$123,750$451,700$256 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Salisbury Mills, NY 12577 90%226$124,028$469,800$249 pricier homes ($57K more) · older homes
Williamsburg, MA 01096 89%153$104,375$374,900$248 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Barkhamsted, CT 06063 89%186$121,705$373,100$231 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Hebron, CT 06248 89%205$134,435$376,200$239 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Staatsburg, NY 12580 89%196$134,583$403,800$287 larger
Firth, NE 68358 89%1,229$111,705$434,300$221 younger residents
Springville, CA 93265 89%2,446$99,350$467,700$223 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Wyoming, RI 02898 88%226$119,038$424,300$300 more homeowners
Chichester, NH 03258 88%124$108,906$410,100$271 larger
New Glarus, WI 53574 88%839$106,508$335,700$205 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Sanbornton, NH 03269 87%102$107,083$450,000$319 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Wilmot, NH 03287 87%97$117,759$399,600$300 older residents
Pownal, ME 04069 87%148$104,333$436,800$355 Very close on everything we compare
Cornwall Bridge, CT 06754 87%194$121,591$462,300$353 pricier homes ($49K more) · older residents
Rock Hill, NY 12775 87%222$112,600$398,400$228 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Churchville, MD 21028 87%387$137,586$512,400$279 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger
Houlton, WI 54082 87%966$131,146$476,200$264 pricier homes ($63K more) · older residents
Dunbarton, NH 03046 86%126$124,348$484,100$272 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Lyndeborough, NH 03082 86%134$120,313$397,700$220 6 min longer commute

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.