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 Fairfield, CT 06825

Fairfield: median income $135,504, home value $630,600, $395/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Framingham, MA 01701 95%121$137,094$644,300$395 Very close on everything we compare
Butler, NJ 07405 94%63$135,169$569,800$342 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 93%57$151,625$633,900$422 smaller
Cranford, NJ 07016 93%67$155,972$660,100$469 pricier homes ($30K more)
Pearl River, NY 10965 92%41$132,660$596,700$395 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Chelmsford, MA 01824 91%137$140,050$619,700$384 Very close on everything we compare
Dedham, MA 02026 91%129$128,955$661,800$448 pricier homes ($31K more)
Denville, NJ 07834 91%68$156,902$555,600$418 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Metuchen, NJ 08840 91%73$146,635$560,100$466 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Caldwell, NJ 07006 90%59$149,102$694,400$434 pricier homes ($64K more)
Ramsey, NJ 07446 90%48$160,996$697,300$450 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($67K more)
Reading, MA 01867 89%143$165,912$809,000$473 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($178K more)
Middletown, NJ 07748 89%72$152,981$600,600$413 cheaper homes ($30K less) · newer homes
Babylon, NY 11702 89%35$137,652$626,900$455 smaller · older residents
Sayville, NY 11782 89%32$147,672$637,300$507 smaller
Elmhurst, IL 60126 89%761$147,566$540,300$360 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Boonton, NJ 07005 88%64$132,629$587,100$365 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Clark, NJ 07066 88%68$133,504$609,600$413 Very close on everything we compare
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 88%70$183,655$718,200$475 higher income ($48K more) · pricier homes ($88K more)
River Edge, NJ 07661 88%46$159,028$660,300$499 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Braintree, MA 02184 87%135$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Verona, NJ 07044 87%58$161,843$608,400$432 higher income ($26K more) · smaller
Wayne, NJ 07470 87%55$153,056$612,700$382 larger
Haddonfield, NJ 08033 87%130$151,181$635,300$384 Very close on everything we compare
Greenlawn, NY 11740 87%24$152,386$693,700$461 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller

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.