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 Hamden, CT 06517

Hamden: median income $104,550, home value $339,400, $255/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pittsburgh, PA 15215 94%370$99,071$311,300$256 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 91%148$114,012$372,200$275 pricier homes ($33K more)
Fort Thomas, KY 41075 91%628$104,875$335,600$265 younger residents
Rocky River, OH 44116 91%463$93,799$349,300$246 larger
Minneapolis, MN 55431 91%1,054$101,484$373,500$207 pricier homes ($34K more) · newer homes
Rumford, RI 02916 90%87$95,263$404,100$273 pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43214 90%537$94,183$400,400$290 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Beachwood, OH 44122 89%446$101,230$328,800$202 larger
Milwaukee, WI 53226 89%782$93,132$335,600$245 Very close on everything we compare
Madison, WI 53716 89%846$91,716$356,800$254 newer homes
Trenton, NJ 08619 88%121$105,946$352,500$300 larger · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55418 88%1,052$99,397$348,700$232 larger · younger residents
La Grange Park, IL 60526 88%773$120,308$439,800$308 pricier homes ($100K more) · 6 min longer commute
Burlington, VT 05408 87%219$95,018$400,600$335 pricier homes ($61K more) · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15228 87%379$123,681$383,700$263 pricier homes ($44K more)
Columbus, OH 43209 87%534$89,713$392,500$256 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · younger residents
Greendale, WI 53129 87%779$95,012$311,800$231 cheaper homes ($28K less) · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55426 87%1,058$99,347$364,600$237 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · younger residents
Worcester, MA 01606 86%88$92,105$370,800$317 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · younger residents
Montpelier, VT 05602 86%202$81,320$360,000$259 newer homes
Collingswood, NJ 08108 86%150$108,151$395,300$332 pricier homes ($56K more)
Saint Louis, MO 63119 86%941$106,183$351,100$241 larger
Saint Louis, MO 63132 86%941$87,385$417,000$270 pricier homes ($78K more) · younger residents
South Hadley, MA 01075 85%64$93,910$357,900$264 less walkable
Audubon, NJ 08106 85%152$111,002$304,800$280 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents · older homes

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.