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 Waterbury Center, VT 05677

Waterbury Center: median income $157,139, home value $577,200, $295/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hampton Falls, NH 03844 90%136$165,509$764,900$354 pricier homes ($188K more)
Allentown, NJ 08501 88%307$146,182$588,800$312 larger
Ringoes, NJ 08551 87%293$162,617$595,800$314 larger
Wayne, IL 60184 87%800$163,750$642,700$239 pricier homes ($66K more) · more single-family homes
East Kingston, NH 03827 85%133$142,794$600,500$273 less walkable
Rexford, NY 12148 84%121$141,984$427,400$309 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger
Loretto, MN 55357 84%1,027$152,500$530,200$245 cheaper homes ($47K less) · younger residents
Canterbury, NH 03224 83%91$138,125$438,500$245 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Pipersville, PA 18947 83%299$140,783$615,000$302 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · younger residents
Glenmoore, PA 19343 83%336$160,256$567,700$267 larger · younger residents
Boylston, MA 01505 82%150$140,962$578,600$343 larger
Bridgewater, CT 06752 82%200$159,365$693,000$335 pricier homes ($116K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Monkton, MD 21111 82%388$136,304$607,200$235 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · less walkable
Suffolk, VA 23433 82%553$140,114$503,000$217 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller · less walkable
Hollis, NH 03049 81%126$168,883$675,900$286 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger · less walkable
Lebanon, NJ 08833 81%280$172,454$604,400$323 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Long Lake, MN 55356 81%1,023$156,622$707,800$295 pricier homes ($131K more) · larger · younger residents
Lyons, CO 80540 81%1,680$139,521$795,500$371 pricier homes ($218K more) · larger · less walkable
Greenland, NH 03840 80%132$162,837$662,800$390 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
North Hampton, NH 03862 80%135$144,583$670,400$496 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Califon, NJ 07830 80%275$180,852$656,400$297 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · older homes
Orangeburg, NY 10962 80%239$148,500$712,300$403 pricier homes ($135K more) · larger · younger residents
Portland, OR 97231 80%2,410$137,527$858,200$268 pricier homes ($281K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Rowley, MA 01969 79%146$132,734$667,300$375 pricier homes ($90K more) · larger
West Newbury, MA 01985 79%140$179,500$808,200$387 pricier homes ($231K more) · larger · less walkable

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.