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 Norwalk, CT 06850

Norwalk: median income $123,633, home value $581,200, $390/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Somerville, NJ 08876 95%75$122,884$485,100$359 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Norwood, MA 02062 91%137$107,030$651,700$432 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Parsippany, NJ 07054 91%54$104,214$587,000$387 Very close on everything we compare
West Harrison, NY 10604 90%16$117,014$735,700$479 pricier homes ($155K more) · smaller
Woburn, MA 01801 89%150$111,185$673,500$456 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger
Edison, NJ 08817 89%65$110,808$431,100$411 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger
Amesbury, MA 01913 87%176$103,554$519,300$385 cheaper homes ($62K less) · more homeowners
Nanuet, NY 10954 87%30$116,332$533,000$383 cheaper homes ($48K less) · more homeowners
Springfield, VA 22150 87%256$123,114$635,900$335 pricier homes ($55K more)
Redlands, CA 92373 87%2,419$101,271$765,700$386 pricier homes ($185K more) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98466 87%2,428$101,778$602,400$351 larger
Weymouth, MA 02188 86%148$107,335$594,000$396 6 min longer commute
Waltham, MA 02451 86%143$122,335$753,000$487 pricier homes ($172K more) · more walkable
Englewood, NJ 07631 86%32$102,571$544,100$428 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 86%68$96,725$616,300$447 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22312 86%253$109,272$604,200$325 more apartments and townhomes
Atlanta, GA 30345 86%778$112,054$573,800$242 Very close on everything we compare
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 86%2,412$107,687$667,100$438 pricier homes ($86K more) · more walkable
Westborough, MA 01581 85%123$141,944$685,300$394 pricier homes ($104K more)
Danvers, MA 01923 85%163$125,395$644,200$428 pricier homes ($63K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Stoneham, MA 02180 85%153$113,964$671,900$437 pricier homes ($91K more) · more homeowners
Middletown, RI 02842 85%116$101,948$563,300$392 7 min shorter commute
Budd Lake, NJ 07828 85%70$103,320$457,700$325 cheaper homes ($124K less)
North Brunswick, NJ 08902 85%72$121,071$433,800$319 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger · newer homes
Suffern, NY 10901 85%36$108,041$542,000$370 cheaper homes ($39K less) · more homeowners

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.