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 Northfield, VT 05663

Northfield: median income $77,524, home value $276,100, $224/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Reading, PA 19609 94%314$82,576$247,300$188 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Clairton, PA 15025 92%456$76,531$227,800$187 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 90%154$81,205$258,800$226 larger
Clawson, MI 48017 90%539$88,812$267,500$208 larger
Thomaston, CT 06787 89%172$103,102$282,900$239 higher income ($26K more)
Athol, MA 01331 88%110$72,181$281,400$248 larger
Runnemede, NJ 08078 88%322$86,741$250,800$235 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more walkable
Somerdale, NJ 08083 88%322$96,653$272,700$249 Very close on everything we compare
Springville, NY 14141 88%323$80,906$217,800$170 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Monaca, PA 15061 88%457$73,010$209,800$194 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Bangor, PA 18013 88%261$78,847$259,600$195 larger
Columbus, WI 53925 88%818$84,044$268,000$193 less walkable
Gardiner, ME 04345 87%142$77,410$242,800$258 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · newer homes
Terryville, CT 06786 87%172$87,306$265,300$233 less walkable
Catskill, NY 12414 87%147$73,036$247,800$271 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Port Ewen, NY 12466 87%170$78,182$278,400$276 smaller
Beaver, PA 15009 87%458$88,294$261,000$187 larger · older residents
Lisbon Falls, ME 04252 86%129$73,476$258,500$236 Very close on everything we compare
Bellmawr, NJ 08031 86%321$76,654$239,400$235 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Schenectady, NY 12303 86%115$84,375$238,100$226 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Caledonia, NY 14423 86%273$80,807$183,000$192 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15209 86%451$85,542$233,900$199 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15234 86%458$78,366$206,600$206 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · more walkable
Grove City, PA 16127 86%430$72,429$213,700$191 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Delaware City, DE 19706 86%351$83,681$263,000$218 smaller

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.