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 Springfield, NJ 07081

Springfield: median income $155,906, home value $636,600, $401/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stamford, CT 06905 93%49$136,757$618,400$413 Very close on everything we compare
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 90%68$149,232$632,000$327 smaller
Seattle, WA 98136 89%2,391$149,269$925,000$544 pricier homes ($288K more)
West Roxbury, MA 02132 88%197$138,724$746,100$505 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger · older homes
White Plains, NY 10605 88%37$148,982$787,500$459 pricier homes ($151K more)
Dedham, MA 02026 87%195$128,955$661,800$448 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($25K more)
Wakefield, MA 01880 86%209$134,306$723,500$468 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 86%71$144,471$803,100$388 pricier homes ($167K more) · younger residents
Burlington, MA 01803 85%204$146,436$740,600$441 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · less walkable
Swampscott, MA 01907 85%215$134,386$771,100$441 pricier homes ($135K more) · 6 min longer commute
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 85%65$147,418$537,400$279 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller · newer homes
Silver Spring, MD 20901 85%184$131,386$589,800$337 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22307 85%198$141,667$778,900$425 pricier homes ($142K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Dallas, TX 75214 85%1,350$132,313$777,100$431 pricier homes ($141K more) · larger · younger residents
Seattle, WA 98155 85%2,385$131,540$816,400$460 pricier homes ($180K more) · larger
Natick, MA 01760 84%189$138,563$821,300$454 pricier homes ($185K more) · larger · less walkable
Waltham, MA 02451 84%198$122,335$753,000$487 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($116K more)
Fort Washington, PA 19034 84%60$165,354$627,500$292 smaller
Wayne, PA 19087 84%72$171,179$748,200$364 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger
Kensington, MD 20895 84%186$173,625$781,500$396 pricier homes ($145K more) · more single-family homes
Falls Church, VA 22042 84%198$138,255$715,800$426 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · younger residents
Elmhurst, IL 60126 84%711$147,566$540,300$360 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80212 84%1,614$124,972$744,500$453 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($108K more) · younger residents
Bedford, MA 01730 83%200$172,400$898,500$496 pricier homes ($262K more) · newer homes
Stoneham, MA 02180 83%207$113,964$671,900$437 lower income ($42K less) · pricier homes ($35K more)

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.