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 Mystic, CT 06355

Mystic: median income $137,425, home value $453,400, $305/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sewickley, PA 15143 90%430$132,674$454,900$257 larger · younger residents
Brecksville, OH 44141 87%500$133,875$372,100$199 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Portsmouth, RI 02871 85%41$116,831$597,000$392 pricier homes ($144K more) · younger residents
Red Hook, NY 12571 85%107$118,967$431,200$328 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Hadley, MA 01035 84%75$119,259$511,000$341 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · younger residents
Fairfield, NJ 07004 84%125$115,980$688,500$393 pricier homes ($235K more) · smaller
Whippany, NJ 07981 84%133$149,893$614,100$444 pricier homes ($161K more)
Oakdale, NY 11769 84%74$123,558$607,000$389 pricier homes ($154K more) · 5 min longer commute
Skaneateles, NY 13152 84%251$104,211$461,800$411 lower income ($33K less) · smaller
Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 84%490$145,882$482,600$258 pricier homes ($29K more)
North Kingstown, RI 02852 83%31$118,643$504,900$332 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · younger residents
Contoocook, NH 03229 83%128$137,386$506,100$287 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · younger residents
York, ME 03909 83%141$115,608$638,400$414 pricier homes ($185K more)
Wilmington, DE 19803 83%215$135,218$457,200$245 larger · younger residents
Delafield, WI 53018 83%847$124,595$521,400$284 pricier homes ($68K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Auburn, MA 01501 82%59$116,762$400,800$299 cheaper homes ($53K less) · younger residents
Boylston, MA 01505 82%69$140,962$578,600$343 pricier homes ($125K more) · smaller · younger residents
Rowley, MA 01969 82%108$132,734$667,300$375 pricier homes ($214K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
East Greenwich, RI 02818 82%33$139,217$613,500$342 pricier homes ($160K more) · larger · younger residents
Wakefield, RI 02879 82%24$112,231$564,700$445 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($111K more) · larger
Ballston Lake, NY 12019 82%144$112,420$400,400$271 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($53K less) · younger residents
Mequon, WI 53092 82%827$128,156$473,300$250 larger · newer homes
Minnetonka, MN 55345 82%1,108$145,332$504,000$227 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · younger residents
Woodstock, VT 05091 81%159$112,396$572,200$327 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($119K more) · smaller
Brookfield, WI 53005 81%832$126,739$415,800$239 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · younger residents

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.