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 Caldwell, NJ 07006

Caldwell: median income $149,102, home value $694,400, $434/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Natick, MA 01760 93%181$138,563$821,300$454 pricier homes ($127K more)
Burlington, MA 01803 92%196$146,436$740,600$441 pricier homes ($46K more)
Framingham, MA 01701 91%178$137,094$644,300$395 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Dedham, MA 02026 91%187$128,955$661,800$448 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Reading, MA 01867 90%200$165,912$809,000$473 pricier homes ($115K more)
Wakefield, MA 01880 90%201$134,306$723,500$468 pricier homes ($29K more) · 5 min longer commute
Fairfield, CT 06825 90%59$135,504$630,600$395 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 89%80$144,471$803,100$388 pricier homes ($109K more)
Wayne, PA 19087 89%80$171,179$748,200$364 pricier homes ($54K more)
Seattle, WA 98155 89%2,382$131,540$816,400$460 pricier homes ($122K more)
Chelmsford, MA 01824 88%193$140,050$619,700$384 cheaper homes ($75K less)
East Greenwich, RI 02818 88%156$139,217$613,500$342 cheaper homes ($81K less) · newer homes
Stamford, CT 06905 88%42$136,757$618,400$413 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Ambler, PA 19002 88%68$143,600$602,100$292 cheaper homes ($92K less) · newer homes
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 87%165$139,302$592,300$353 cheaper homes ($102K less) · newer homes
Ipswich, MA 01938 87%217$138,750$745,400$421 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · older residents
Stoneham, MA 02180 87%199$113,964$671,900$437 lower income ($35K less)
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 87%39$157,923$936,300$484 pricier homes ($242K more) · smaller
Elmhurst, IL 60126 87%711$147,566$540,300$360 cheaper homes ($154K less) · larger
Bedford, MA 01730 86%192$172,400$898,500$496 pricier homes ($204K more) · smaller · newer homes
Pearl River, NY 10965 86%20$132,660$596,700$395 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller
Sayville, NY 11782 86%63$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Andover, MA 01810 85%203$172,606$855,600$412 pricier homes ($161K more) · newer homes
North Andover, MA 01845 85%206$140,670$732,900$367 pricier homes ($39K more) · newer homes
Danvers, MA 01923 85%209$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($50K less)

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.