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 Norwood, NJ 07648

Norwood: median income $178,311, home value $709,100, $474/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Millis, MA 02054 88%157$155,996$603,500$369 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · older homes
Melville, NY 11747 87%32$159,540$757,800$486 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Wrentham, MA 02093 86%154$151,676$654,900$355 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Dresher, PA 19025 86%86$188,490$635,700$302 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 85%47$150,505$680,200$382 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Oak Park, CA 91377 85%2,470$163,085$1,036,900$571 pricier homes ($328K more) · larger · younger residents
Woodbury, NY 11797 84%28$192,609$1,007,000$595 pricier homes ($298K more) · larger
Rowley, MA 01969 83%197$132,734$667,300$375 lower income ($46K less) · cheaper homes ($42K less)
Grafton, MA 01519 82%144$178,263$631,600$320 cheaper homes ($78K less) · younger residents
Northborough, MA 01532 81%150$153,199$620,000$331 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Walpole, MA 02081 81%161$156,250$687,500$396 larger · younger residents
Congers, NY 10920 81%11$145,567$582,800$375 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($126K less) · older homes
North Reading, MA 01864 80%184$147,768$710,500$425 lower income ($31K less) · larger · younger residents
Hanover, MA 02339 80%178$189,803$755,400$385 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · younger residents
Foothill Ranch, CA 92610 80%2,428$195,046$1,020,500$658 pricier homes ($311K more) · larger · younger residents
Girdwood, AK 99587 80%3,327$163,704$630,200$575 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller · less walkable
Valley Cottage, NY 10989 79%9$134,267$549,700$390 lower income ($44K less) · cheaper homes ($159K less) · larger
Saint James, NY 11780 79%42$144,577$723,200$466 lower income ($34K less) · larger · older homes
Littleton, MA 01460 78%166$149,722$658,300$374 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Bedford, MA 01730 78%172$172,400$898,500$496 pricier homes ($189K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Essex, MA 01929 78%199$156,442$902,000$416 pricier homes ($193K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
North Easton, MA 02356 78%165$127,224$650,300$348 lower income ($51K less) · cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Newtown, PA 18940 78%73$157,414$655,000$316 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33332 78%1,096$172,730$909,000$395 pricier homes ($200K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Anaheim, CA 92808 78%2,427$158,462$1,069,300$627 pricier homes ($360K more) · larger

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.