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 North Branford, CT 06471

North Branford: median income $109,388, home value $371,200, $273/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Southwick, MA 01077 94%50$120,462$397,500$282 pricier homes ($26K more)
Dousman, WI 53118 94%811$108,772$372,600$274 Very close on everything we compare
North Smithfield, RI 02896 93%77$108,983$457,400$295 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger
Loudon, NH 03307 92%153$107,226$365,400$268 newer homes
Elverson, PA 19520 92%177$100,088$417,200$201 pricier homes ($46K more)
Oxford, MA 01540 91%72$110,579$376,100$302 larger · younger residents
Valatie, NY 12184 91%89$98,622$355,200$276 Very close on everything we compare
Twin Lakes, WI 53181 91%799$97,804$293,500$248 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Tiverton, RI 02878 90%85$106,036$411,900$306 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Bristol, WI 53104 90%788$112,000$325,100$226 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Greenville, RI 02828 89%73$97,196$440,900$291 pricier homes ($70K more)
Raymond, NH 03077 89%143$104,597$370,400$315 larger · younger residents
Lake George, NY 12845 89%151$100,774$355,900$325 smaller · more renters
Leesport, PA 19533 89%179$105,179$313,600$183 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Thurmont, MD 21788 89%270$98,856$379,200$208 larger · younger residents
North Bend, OH 45052 89%647$101,165$304,900$264 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Mazomanie, WI 53560 89%876$98,409$358,000$228 smaller
Evans City, PA 16033 88%381$108,071$333,100$200 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Romeo, MI 48065 88%536$106,053$373,100$204 larger · 5 min longer commute
Cannon Falls, MN 55009 88%1,037$91,295$331,300$208 cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger residents
Spicer, MN 56288 88%1,141$111,021$422,300$208 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller
Feeding Hills, MA 01030 87%51$93,815$327,700$248 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · more renters
Wilton, NH 03086 87%117$113,750$381,600$284 smaller
Epsom, NH 03234 87%149$97,941$338,400$251 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Hollis Center, ME 04042 87%192$95,950$338,900$270 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 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.