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 Newtown, CT 06470

Newtown: median income $153,238, home value $577,800, $289/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Upton, MA 01568 95%104$160,417$574,700$316 smaller
Georgetown, MA 01833 95%151$153,750$653,500$360 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller
Amherst, NH 03031 95%134$153,125$537,300$289 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Littleton, MA 01460 94%123$149,722$658,300$374 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller
Medford, NJ 08055 94%132$155,710$496,400$259 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Lancaster, MA 01523 93%111$134,833$519,100$288 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Sutton, MA 01590 93%95$147,015$523,100$276 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Sparta, NJ 07871 93%73$167,654$479,700$310 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Kendall Park, NJ 08824 93%93$174,776$628,000$360 pricier homes ($50K more)
Silver Spring, MD 20905 93%250$159,740$656,700$251 pricier homes ($79K more)
Northborough, MA 01532 92%107$153,199$620,000$331 pricier homes ($42K more)
Holliston, MA 01746 92%112$159,817$650,300$360 pricier homes ($73K more)
Wrentham, MA 02093 92%112$151,676$654,900$355 pricier homes ($77K more)
Annapolis, MD 21409 92%231$147,151$535,500$286 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Middletown, MD 21769 92%260$151,563$507,000$225 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Pembroke, MA 02359 91%138$146,285$586,500$392 Very close on everything we compare
Nesconset, NY 11767 91%39$152,985$637,900$407 pricier homes ($60K more)
North Reading, MA 01864 90%141$147,768$710,500$425 pricier homes ($133K more)
Long Valley, NJ 07853 90%87$175,792$605,000$302 pricier homes ($27K more)
Hopewell Junction, NY 12533 90%27$141,585$478,600$266 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger
Glenmoore, PA 19343 90%157$160,256$567,700$267 smaller · newer homes
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 90%762$153,495$419,900$249 cheaper homes ($158K less)
Morrison, CO 80465 90%1,669$132,292$685,300$312 pricier homes ($108K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Holden, MA 01520 89%100$148,125$478,300$296 cheaper homes ($100K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Medway, MA 02053 89%111$173,750$617,300$337 pricier homes ($40K more)

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.