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 Thompson, CT 06277

Thompson: median income $110,000, home value $295,100, $271/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alton, NH 03809 91%107$106,397$387,500$270 pricier homes ($92K more)
Monson, MA 01057 90%26$98,508$345,300$239 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Oxford, NJ 07863 90%183$94,167$294,000$230 older homes
Somonauk, IL 60552 90%866$113,411$257,400$198 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Harrisville, RI 02830 89%9$121,111$408,700$259 pricier homes ($114K more) · larger
Greenfield, NH 03047 89%67$103,603$350,300$298 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Sharpsburg, MD 21782 89%356$94,130$311,600$207 Very close on everything we compare
Fitzwilliam, NH 03447 88%56$100,735$305,900$260 smaller
Sanbornville, NH 03872 88%116$109,583$334,400$278 pricier homes ($39K more)
Ray, MI 48096 88%568$117,917$377,700$227 pricier homes ($83K more) · more single-family homes
Chepachet, RI 02814 87%9$110,764$390,500$298 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger
Montague, NJ 07827 87%158$101,444$346,200$234 pricier homes ($51K more)
Waterford Works, NJ 08089 86%222$115,117$256,000$236 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents
East Berne, NY 12059 86%122$106,506$340,400$215 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Argyle, NY 12809 86%120$83,938$256,100$238 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($39K less)
Conestoga, PA 17516 86%275$103,942$313,500$185 7 min shorter commute
Chesapeake City, MD 21915 86%270$95,875$376,500$252 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Milton, NH 03851 85%108$93,412$314,300$376 younger residents
Steep Falls, ME 04085 85%138$92,246$288,600$253 younger residents
Delanson, NY 12053 85%131$91,991$266,600$230 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Fawn Grove, PA 17321 85%285$114,205$291,200$230 smaller · newer homes
South Haven, MN 55382 85%1,138$93,661$368,100$283 pricier homes ($73K more) · younger residents
Barre, MA 01005 84%33$111,148$392,600$247 pricier homes ($98K more) · younger residents
Hillsborough, NH 03244 84%78$86,375$279,500$263 larger · younger residents
Limington, ME 04049 84%134$84,675$295,600$257 lower income ($25K less) · newer 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.