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 Ridgefield, CT 06877

Ridgefield: median income $179,219, home value $836,200, $399/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Westford, MA 01886 94%138$187,198$748,500$371 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Duxbury, MA 02332 94%152$176,583$874,600$459 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Holliston, MA 01746 91%123$159,817$650,300$360 cheaper homes ($186K less) · smaller
Lynnfield, MA 01940 91%153$173,214$905,400$418 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Sharon, MA 02067 91%132$192,314$736,100$381 cheaper homes ($100K less) · 6 min longer commute
Acton, MA 01720 90%133$159,010$814,300$385 Very close on everything we compare
Andover, MA 01810 90%152$172,606$855,600$412 more walkable
Kendall Park, NJ 08824 90%82$174,776$628,000$360 cheaper homes ($208K less) · smaller
Stow, MA 01775 89%129$185,809$729,600$339 cheaper homes ($107K less) · smaller
Westwood, NJ 07675 89%33$183,154$719,400$453 cheaper homes ($117K less) · more walkable
East Setauket, NY 11733 89%32$173,281$683,400$408 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Northborough, MA 01532 88%119$153,199$620,000$331 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($216K less) · smaller
Wayland, MA 01778 88%132$219,375$977,300$443 higher income ($40K more) · pricier homes ($141K more) · smaller
Reading, MA 01867 88%149$165,912$809,000$473 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older homes
Evergreen, CO 80439 88%1,668$156,218$900,300$369 pricier homes ($64K more)
Medfield, MA 02052 87%129$235,800$911,100$416 higher income ($57K more) · pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller
Walpole, MA 02081 87%130$156,250$687,500$396 cheaper homes ($149K less) · more walkable
Westwood, MA 02090 87%134$223,125$1,041,500$493 higher income ($44K more) · pricier homes ($205K more) · smaller
Hanover, MA 02339 87%148$189,803$755,400$385 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Warren, NJ 07059 87%70$212,479$921,500$440 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($85K more) · newer homes
Randolph, NJ 07869 87%64$169,497$665,700$351 cheaper homes ($171K less) · younger residents
Groton, MA 01450 86%135$193,292$743,400$325 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · newer homes
Southborough, MA 01772 86%122$201,568$841,700$354 smaller
Norwell, MA 02061 85%150$188,699$865,700$425 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · younger residents
Watchung, NJ 07069 85%68$171,705$883,300$405 pricier homes ($47K 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.