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 Butler, NJ 07405

Butler: median income $135,169, home value $569,800, $342/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chelmsford, MA 01824 95%193$140,050$619,700$384 pricier homes ($50K more)
Pearl River, NY 10965 95%22$132,660$596,700$395 pricier homes ($27K more)
Fairfield, CT 06825 94%63$135,504$630,600$395 pricier homes ($61K more)
Framingham, MA 01701 93%179$137,094$644,300$395 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 93%69$128,295$560,200$257 Very close on everything we compare
Sayville, NY 11782 91%72$147,672$637,300$507 pricier homes ($68K more)
North Easton, MA 02356 90%186$127,224$650,300$348 pricier homes ($81K more)
Hauppauge, NY 11788 90%65$149,726$653,900$414 pricier homes ($84K more) · less walkable
North Reading, MA 01864 89%203$147,768$710,500$425 pricier homes ($141K more) · less walkable
Marshfield, MA 02050 89%207$126,241$679,700$424 pricier homes ($110K more)
Greenlawn, NY 11740 89%56$152,386$693,700$461 pricier homes ($124K more) · smaller
Kings Park, NY 11754 89%62$123,393$624,700$414 pricier homes ($55K more)
Littleton, MA 01460 88%185$149,722$658,300$374 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller
East Greenwich, RI 02818 88%160$139,217$613,500$342 pricier homes ($44K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Rockville, MD 20853 88%193$159,080$631,900$302 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger
Springfield, VA 22151 88%212$156,015$655,800$350 pricier homes ($86K more)
Lancaster, MA 01523 87%173$134,833$519,100$288 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · less walkable
Burlington, MA 01803 87%196$146,436$740,600$441 pricier homes ($171K more)
Medway, MA 02053 87%175$173,750$617,300$337 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($48K more)
Walpole, MA 02081 87%182$156,250$687,500$396 pricier homes ($118K more)
Cheshire, CT 06410 87%86$145,179$438,900$262 cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger
Trumbull, CT 06611 87%66$163,073$547,300$317 higher income ($28K more) · larger
Brewster, NY 10509 87%52$116,831$458,300$291 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Valley Cottage, NY 10989 87%26$134,267$549,700$390 smaller · older residents
Babylon, NY 11702 87%61$137,652$626,900$455 pricier homes ($57K more) · older residents · older homes

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.