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 Ellington, CT 06029

Ellington: median income $129,331, home value $367,200, $249/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Perkasie, PA 18944 94%180$130,997$426,100$248 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Altamont, NY 12009 90%97$120,101$342,900$247 smaller
Harleysville, PA 19438 89%190$138,134$480,300$246 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger
Batavia, IL 60510 89%814$121,622$392,200$237 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · more walkable
Norton, MA 02766 88%66$124,535$501,400$312 pricier homes ($134K more)
Brewster, NY 10509 88%68$116,831$458,300$291 pricier homes ($91K more)
West Grove, PA 19390 88%228$128,858$417,900$222 pricier homes ($51K more) · newer homes
Milford, MI 48381 88%571$105,213$405,200$224 pricier homes ($38K more)
Mundelein, IL 60060 88%796$110,335$326,700$233 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Belchertown, MA 01007 87%25$108,125$371,400$258 more homeowners
Pepperell, MA 01463 87%69$123,911$482,100$298 pricier homes ($115K more) · more homeowners
Pleasant Valley, NY 12569 87%71$100,846$380,100$246 lower income ($28K less) · smaller
Canonsburg, PA 15317 87%417$108,044$354,500$198 larger
Pottstown, PA 19465 87%205$107,825$404,500$233 pricier homes ($37K more)
Schwenksville, PA 19473 87%194$138,819$476,300$248 pricier homes ($109K more) · more homeowners
Avon Lake, OH 44012 87%493$115,567$368,300$213 larger
Sussex, WI 53089 87%806$120,875$418,900$248 pricier homes ($52K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Waukesha, WI 53189 87%809$117,008$406,200$243 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
North Grafton, MA 01536 86%45$115,938$470,800$310 pricier homes ($104K more) · smaller · older homes
Goffstown, NH 03045 86%89$119,205$384,600$294 more homeowners
Londonderry, NH 03053 86%86$134,038$507,600$308 pricier homes ($140K more) · larger · more homeowners
Gorham, ME 04038 86%159$112,312$460,900$301 pricier homes ($94K more)
Lumberton, NJ 08048 86%182$113,440$432,100$232 pricier homes ($65K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Marlboro, NY 12542 86%81$121,378$416,000$173 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 86%271$129,655$375,700$216 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.