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 Preston, CT 06365

Preston: median income $117,045, home value $361,400, $274/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Granby, MA 01033 95%57$119,297$352,600$277 Very close on everything we compare
West Sand Lake, NY 12196 93%113$110,889$317,300$241 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Zionsville, PA 18092 93%198$112,721$422,200$219 pricier homes ($61K more)
Mertztown, PA 19539 93%205$107,656$266,700$228 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Hampden, MA 01036 91%44$104,536$358,200$279 Very close on everything we compare
Franksville, WI 53126 91%823$101,206$386,300$239 Very close on everything we compare
Sparrows Point, MD 21219 90%283$110,438$384,600$243 larger
Waldo, WI 53093 90%825$101,429$274,800$223 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Bristol, WI 53104 89%826$112,000$325,100$226 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 5 min longer commute
Kansasville, WI 53139 89%829$99,635$305,500$285 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
New Berlin, WI 53146 89%831$110,035$346,100$254 larger
Bayport, MN 55003 89%1,070$125,893$376,900$201 younger residents
Richmond, MN 56368 89%1,158$97,407$321,100$254 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Leicester, MA 01524 88%50$102,099$436,200$278 pricier homes ($75K more)
Brooklyn, WI 53521 88%893$108,036$391,100$263 pricier homes ($30K more) · newer homes
Holt, MO 64048 88%1,182$103,131$337,900$255 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Danielsville, PA 18038 87%190$117,121$279,700$235 cheaper homes ($82K less) · 6 min longer commute
Clarklake, MI 49234 87%637$110,313$295,000$355 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · older residents
Mazomanie, WI 53560 87%913$98,409$358,000$228 Very close on everything we compare
Port Byron, IL 61275 87%946$108,438$245,700$196 cheaper homes ($116K less)
Southampton, MA 01073 86%61$123,125$452,300$303 pricier homes ($91K more) · newer homes
Ashaway, RI 02804 86%13$102,118$355,400$292 smaller · older homes
Hope, RI 02831 86%27$137,181$462,200$299 pricier homes ($101K more) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Ghent, NY 12075 86%101$98,047$422,900$253 pricier homes ($62K more)
Nassau, NY 12123 86%108$108,878$297,000$235 cheaper homes ($64K less)

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.