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 West Milford, NJ 07480

West Milford: median income $132,676, home value $379,900, $292/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stony Point, NY 10980 92%22$126,284$513,700$337 pricier homes ($134K more)
Carmel, NY 10512 91%43$117,701$410,500$307 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Sturbridge, MA 01566 90%138$137,730$415,900$268 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Hanson, MA 02341 90%193$132,250$536,100$337 pricier homes ($156K more)
Lunenburg, MA 01462 89%171$112,992$463,800$320 pricier homes ($84K more)
Somerset, MA 02726 89%173$111,046$419,000$345 pricier homes ($39K more)
Northwood, NH 03261 89%219$129,375$363,000$308 smaller
Mahopac, NY 10541 89%38$138,617$508,500$333 pricier homes ($129K more) · larger
Coopersburg, PA 18036 88%67$129,123$416,200$229 pricier homes ($36K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Pembroke, MA 02359 87%196$146,285$586,500$392 pricier homes ($207K more)
Seekonk, MA 02771 87%166$120,613$482,800$314 pricier homes ($103K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Harrisville, RI 02830 87%153$121,111$408,700$259 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
East Hampton, CT 06424 87%102$123,680$347,800$242 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Brewster, NY 10509 87%46$116,831$458,300$291 pricier homes ($78K more)
Goshen, NY 10924 87%21$110,938$454,300$277 pricier homes ($74K more)
Manchester, MD 21102 87%165$135,069$392,800$211 newer homes
Pepperell, MA 01463 86%180$123,911$482,100$298 pricier homes ($102K more) · newer homes
Charlton, MA 01507 86%144$117,587$427,500$272 pricier homes ($48K more) · newer homes
East Bridgewater, MA 02333 86%189$133,741$509,200$322 pricier homes ($129K more) · younger residents
Chepachet, RI 02814 86%151$110,764$390,500$298 smaller · older residents
Clinton, CT 06413 86%97$124,824$380,000$315 7 min shorter commute
Pawling, NY 12564 86%52$111,324$446,800$266 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller · more renters
Walkersville, MD 21793 86%192$121,971$459,400$226 pricier homes ($80K more) · newer homes
Southwick, MA 01077 85%106$120,462$397,500$282 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Lancaster, MA 01523 85%167$134,833$519,100$288 pricier homes ($139K 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.