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 Waterford, CT 06385

Waterford: median income $100,484, home value $365,400, $302/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Valatie, NY 12184 94%108$98,622$355,200$276 smaller
East Longmeadow, MA 01028 93%53$106,424$379,200$259 Very close on everything we compare
Feeding Hills, MA 01030 92%57$93,815$327,700$248 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Topsham, ME 04086 92%214$91,028$360,800$296 smaller
Vergennes, VT 05491 92%201$87,917$337,400$286 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Auburn, MA 01501 91%61$116,762$400,800$299 pricier homes ($35K more)
West Boylston, MA 01583 91%72$106,094$441,500$312 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller
Tiverton, RI 02878 91%54$106,036$411,900$306 pricier homes ($47K more) · 6 min longer commute
Pottstown, PA 19465 91%201$107,825$404,500$233 pricier homes ($39K more) · 5 min longer commute
Merritt Island, FL 32952 91%1,023$102,726$425,700$253 pricier homes ($60K more)
Cedarburg, WI 53012 91%820$96,090$422,700$273 pricier homes ($57K more)
Stoughton, WI 53589 91%880$96,226$341,000$241 Very close on everything we compare
Duluth, MN 55803 91%1,057$105,888$336,000$231 cheaper homes ($29K less)
North Smithfield, RI 02896 90%53$108,983$457,400$295 pricier homes ($92K more)
Woodstown, NJ 08098 90%204$110,913$326,300$229 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Vineland, NJ 08361 90%197$99,050$285,900$207 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Ballston Lake, NY 12019 90%140$112,420$400,400$271 pricier homes ($35K more)
Wynantskill, NY 12198 90%120$113,083$285,100$237 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Lancaster, NY 14086 90%351$99,499$294,300$249 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Coventry, RI 02816 89%38$101,431$350,800$263 larger
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 89%206$90,013$370,500$283 newer homes
East Aurora, NY 14052 89%345$99,970$343,700$258 older residents
Grand Island, NY 14072 89%367$115,991$327,000$211 cheaper homes ($38K less)
East Troy, WI 53120 89%839$96,345$336,300$260 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55110 89%1,079$101,296$360,500$217 larger

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.