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 Bethany, CT 06524

Bethany: median income $166,236, home value $418,000, $257/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ringwood, NJ 07456 93%70$152,414$449,800$302 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Baldwin, MD 21013 92%226$171,354$572,100$238 pricier homes ($154K more)
Princeton, MA 01541 91%91$158,750$520,500$284 pricier homes ($103K more)
Paxton, MA 01612 91%82$134,083$472,300$295 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($54K more)
Mont Vernon, NH 03057 91%122$156,250$518,400$275 pricier homes ($100K more) · smaller
Succasunna, NJ 07876 90%95$161,304$527,200$324 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger
Assonet, MA 02702 89%103$153,038$516,100$293 pricier homes ($98K more)
Andover, NJ 07821 89%97$141,860$431,500$292 larger
Myersville, MD 21773 88%273$161,908$544,400$212 pricier homes ($126K more) · newer homes
Amherst, NH 03031 86%122$153,125$537,300$289 pricier homes ($119K more) · larger
Auburn, NH 03032 86%137$153,253$600,300$294 pricier homes ($182K more) · newer homes
Milford, NJ 08848 86%124$138,614$440,200$270 lower income ($28K less) · larger
Churchville, MD 21028 86%214$137,586$512,400$279 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller
Riva, MD 21140 86%255$170,156$634,700$298 pricier homes ($217K more)
Sutton, MA 01590 85%80$147,015$523,100$276 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger · newer homes
West Kingston, RI 02892 85%72$135,809$490,600$269 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($73K more) · newer homes
Long Valley, NJ 07853 85%103$175,792$605,000$302 pricier homes ($187K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Shoreham, NY 11786 85%33$163,466$604,700$382 pricier homes ($187K more)
West Bloomfield, MI 48324 85%539$142,100$442,300$213 larger
Brookline, NH 03033 84%114$171,046$544,400$245 pricier homes ($126K more) · newer homes
Bow, NH 03304 84%140$172,857$506,500$279 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Hopewell, NJ 08525 84%117$165,324$572,500$325 pricier homes ($155K more) · older homes
Ringoes, NJ 08551 84%117$162,617$595,800$314 pricier homes ($178K more)
Hampton, NJ 08827 84%115$135,625$443,400$270 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($25K more) · 5 min longer commute
Tappan, NY 10983 84%56$160,170$610,900$413 pricier homes ($193K 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.