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 Andover, NJ 07821

Andover: median income $141,860, home value $431,500, $292/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marlborough, CT 06447 93%128$142,105$379,100$227 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Paxton, MA 01612 92%173$134,083$472,300$295 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Assonet, MA 02702 92%200$153,038$516,100$293 pricier homes ($85K more) · smaller
Lancaster, MA 01523 90%189$134,833$519,100$288 pricier homes ($88K more)
Tolland, CT 06084 90%138$133,611$365,200$241 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Sandy Hook, CT 06482 90%84$159,828$499,200$285 pricier homes ($68K more)
New Fairfield, CT 06812 90%74$137,647$484,800$338 pricier homes ($53K more) · 7 min longer commute
Middletown, MD 21769 90%181$151,563$507,000$225 pricier homes ($76K more)
Ashburnham, MA 01430 89%186$118,683$391,700$275 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Burlington, CT 06013 89%109$165,120$418,700$252 6 min shorter commute
Bethany, CT 06524 89%97$166,236$418,000$257 smaller
Shoreham, NY 11786 89%97$163,466$604,700$382 pricier homes ($173K more)
Finksburg, MD 21048 89%152$131,921$459,000$201 pricier homes ($28K more)
Jarrettsville, MD 21084 89%130$121,509$448,400$234 Very close on everything we compare
Hanson, MA 02341 88%215$132,250$536,100$337 pricier homes ($105K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Deerfield, NH 03037 88%234$130,371$424,000$293 smaller · newer homes
Northwood, NH 03261 88%239$129,375$363,000$308 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Baldwin, MD 21013 88%135$171,354$572,100$238 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($141K more) · smaller
West Kingston, RI 02892 87%167$135,809$490,600$269 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller · newer homes
Monroe, CT 06468 87%84$157,250$503,200$275 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger
Newtown, CT 06470 87%80$153,238$577,800$289 pricier homes ($146K more) · larger
Wading River, NY 11792 87%100$146,174$597,300$396 pricier homes ($166K more)
Churchville, MD 21028 87%125$137,586$512,400$279 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller
Myersville, MD 21773 87%178$161,908$544,400$212 pricier homes ($113K more) · smaller
Douglas, MA 01516 86%173$153,172$467,000$291 pricier homes ($36K more) · newer 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.