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 Ramsey, NJ 07446

Ramsey: median income $160,996, home value $697,300, $450/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Reading, MA 01867 93%186$165,912$809,000$473 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger
Walpole, MA 02081 92%167$156,250$687,500$396 Very close on everything we compare
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 92%57$150,505$680,200$382 smaller
Fairfield, CT 06825 90%48$135,504$630,600$395 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($67K less)
Pleasantville, NY 10570 90%19$183,833$862,300$470 pricier homes ($165K more)
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 90%35$157,923$936,300$484 pricier homes ($239K more)
Burlington, MA 01803 89%182$146,436$740,600$441 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Andover, MA 01810 88%189$172,606$855,600$412 pricier homes ($158K more) · larger
Canton, MA 02021 88%173$143,381$710,600$425 larger · newer homes
Sayville, NY 11782 88%59$147,672$637,300$507 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Framingham, MA 01701 87%164$137,094$644,300$395 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Bedford, MA 01730 87%178$172,400$898,500$496 pricier homes ($201K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Natick, MA 01760 87%167$138,563$821,300$454 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger
East Greenwich, RI 02818 87%144$139,217$613,500$342 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Fairfax, VA 22032 87%227$178,394$799,200$361 pricier homes ($102K more) · larger
Chelmsford, MA 01824 86%178$140,050$619,700$384 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Fort Washington, PA 19034 86%84$165,354$627,500$292 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Derwood, MD 20855 86%207$149,110$640,300$297 cheaper homes ($57K less) · newer homes
Springfield, VA 22153 86%229$174,228$693,600$344 larger · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22310 86%223$166,061$659,700$355 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · newer homes
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 85%151$139,302$592,300$353 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger
Medway, MA 02053 85%160$173,750$617,300$337 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more single-family homes
Ambler, PA 19002 85%83$143,600$602,100$292 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger
Kensington, MD 20895 85%209$173,625$781,500$396 pricier homes ($84K more) · more walkable
Alexandria, VA 22307 85%221$141,667$778,900$425 pricier homes ($82K more) · more apartments and townhomes

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.