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.

Reset

Towns most like New Fairfield, CT 06812

New Fairfield: median income $137,647, home value $484,800, $338/sq ft, 42-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Putnam Valley, NY 10579 96%20$132,500$548,400$327 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
Mahopac, NY 10541 92%15$138,617$508,500$333 larger
Andover, NJ 07821 90%74$141,860$431,500$292 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Milford, NJ 08848 88%103$138,614$440,200$270 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Campbell Hall, NY 10916 88%39$135,556$492,400$295 smaller · newer homes
Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567 87%24$144,194$566,700$352 pricier homes ($82K more) · more walkable
Jarrettsville, MD 21084 87%202$121,509$448,400$234 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438 85%61$123,271$436,900$280 cheaper homes ($48K less) · newer homes
Blairstown, NJ 07825 85%84$123,785$423,400$258 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Hampton, NJ 08827 85%94$135,625$443,400$270 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Hewitt, NJ 07421 84%50$129,800$420,000$333 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Landing, NJ 07850 84%72$106,806$417,900$371 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Rocky Point, NY 11778 84%47$126,349$456,500$412 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Fallston, MD 21047 84%205$157,500$552,500$218 pricier homes ($68K more)
Finksburg, MD 21048 84%225$131,921$459,000$201 cheaper homes ($26K less) · newer homes
Pembroke, MA 02359 83%145$146,285$586,500$392 pricier homes ($102K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Rochester, MA 02770 82%138$120,320$601,200$348 pricier homes ($116K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Ringwood, NJ 07456 82%48$152,414$449,800$302 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Stanhope, NJ 07874 82%73$132,500$364,000$346 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Stony Point, NY 10980 82%31$126,284$513,700$337 pricier homes ($29K more) · 7 min shorter commute
White Hall, MD 21161 82%204$108,094$472,600$287 lower income ($30K less) · smaller
Hanson, MA 02341 81%142$132,250$536,100$337 pricier homes ($51K more) · 9 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Northwood, NH 03261 81%168$129,375$363,000$308 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Stockholm, NJ 07460 81%59$145,081$384,200$323 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
West Milford, NJ 07480 81%53$132,676$379,900$292 cheaper homes ($105K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes

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.