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 Washington Depot, CT 06794

Washington Depot: median income $96,979, home value $733,100, $431/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Germantown, NY 12526 85%42$97,679$485,000$361 cheaper homes ($248K less) · larger
The Plains, VA 20198 85%303$106,518$933,000$521 pricier homes ($200K more) · larger
Saint Michaels, MD 21663 85%250$89,775$650,500$438 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · older residents
North Garden, VA 22959 84%381$95,461$548,800$414 cheaper homes ($184K less) · newer homes
Idyllwild, CA 92549 80%2,408$73,750$532,300$340 cheaper homes ($201K less) · larger
Trinidad, CA 95570 80%2,596$74,777$635,400$447 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Durham, CA 95938 80%2,511$82,974$611,700$368 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger · younger residents
Hatfield, MA 01038 79%62$106,635$442,500$314 cheaper homes ($291K less) · larger · older homes
Sheffield, MA 01257 79%31$102,788$441,000$299 cheaper homes ($292K less) · larger
Eliot, ME 03903 79%165$101,522$498,900$363 cheaper homes ($234K less) · larger
Laporte, CO 80535 79%1,648$110,945$483,300$309 cheaper homes ($250K less)
Three Rivers, CA 93271 79%2,443$85,922$493,900$382 cheaper homes ($239K less) · larger
Corbett, OR 97019 79%2,424$104,022$686,400$309 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · younger residents
Mount Hood Parkdale, OR 97041 79%2,394$82,679$705,600$416 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
West Barnstable, MA 02668 78%153$111,731$709,300$459 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Hebron, NH 03241 78%162$91,375$470,700$371 cheaper homes ($262K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Bayside, CA 95524 78%2,597$87,500$601,600$413 cheaper homes ($132K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Haydenville, MA 01039 77%60$116,429$423,100$403 cheaper homes ($310K less)
Nashotah, WI 53058 77%775$104,444$584,900$280 cheaper homes ($148K less) · larger
Grand Lake, CO 80447 77%1,691$96,000$632,400$444 cheaper homes ($101K less) · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Holualoa, HI 96725 77%4,955$93,346$880,000$586 pricier homes ($147K more) · larger · younger residents
Wolfeboro, NH 03894 76%172$94,349$548,600$347 cheaper homes ($185K less) · larger · older residents
Kennebunkport, ME 04046 76%188$102,529$586,100$434 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger
Newcastle, ME 04553 76%254$89,868$398,000$321 cheaper homes ($335K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Lakeside, MT 59922 76%2,026$87,237$657,500$298 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · newer 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.