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 Putnam, CT 06260

Putnam: median income $70,502, home value $269,500, $221/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Claremont, NH 03743 92%103$59,625$206,600$190 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Port Jervis, NY 12771 91%148$68,136$261,100$234 larger
Franklin, NH 03235 90%106$71,775$263,600$250 7 min longer commute
Ellenville, NY 12428 90%130$63,145$238,400$199 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Akron, PA 17501 90%255$78,182$258,900$199 smaller
Columbia, PA 17512 90%272$66,684$245,200$169 larger
Ware, MA 01082 89%30$69,018$292,000$219 more homeowners
Somersworth, NH 03878 89%106$75,136$317,900$256 pricier homes ($48K more) · younger residents
Auburn, ME 04210 89%172$66,647$282,000$208 larger
Rochester, NH 03867 88%107$78,674$273,900$279 larger · newer homes
Bensenville, IL 60106 87%824$79,456$282,200$198 larger
Springfield, VT 05156 86%100$66,679$204,300$162 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more single-family homes
Bellmawr, NJ 08031 86%219$76,654$239,400$235 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents · more walkable
Hudson Falls, NY 12839 86%129$71,423$173,000$209 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Tilton, NH 03276 85%108$82,425$272,700$250 newer homes
South Glens Falls, NY 12803 85%129$82,057$231,300$229 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Sanford, ME 04073 84%119$72,917$282,900$269 larger · newer homes
Hudson, NY 12534 84%98$72,741$316,700$307 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Portage, WI 53901 84%897$74,092$227,700$177 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Bedford, TX 76022 84%1,514$72,560$277,100$208 more renters · newer homes
Toledo, OR 97391 84%2,580$62,292$352,900$283 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller
Gardner, MA 01440 83%46$67,440$303,500$232 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Wind Gap, PA 18091 83%193$80,464$277,600$271 newer homes
Waterford, MI 48328 83%587$72,299$222,900$195 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Beaver Dam, WI 53916 83%866$71,188$220,300$190 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · more single-family homes

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.