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 Montague, NJ 07827

Montague: median income $101,444, home value $346,200, $234/sq ft, 42-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Greenville, NY 12083 89%85$83,537$308,500$198 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Barre, MA 01005 88%156$111,148$392,600$247 pricier homes ($46K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Shirley, MA 01464 88%182$122,365$427,600$294 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger
Hillsborough, NH 03244 88%192$86,375$279,500$263 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Alton, NH 03809 88%234$106,397$387,500$270 pricier homes ($41K more)
Stewartstown, PA 17363 88%143$107,386$320,100$203 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Spring Grove, VA 23881 88%308$109,531$318,800$208 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Granger, TX 76530 88%1,457$106,250$288,300$190 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Amboy, WA 98601 88%2,372$106,776$515,000$277 pricier homes ($169K more) · smaller
Monson, MA 01057 87%137$98,508$345,300$239 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Harrisville, RI 02830 87%167$121,111$408,700$259 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Mapleville, RI 02839 87%167$97,292$338,000$197 smaller
Thompson, CT 06277 87%158$110,000$295,100$271 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Street, MD 21154 87%142$97,658$455,400$257 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Kearneysville, WV 25430 87%217$86,806$299,900$187 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Bridgton, ME 04009 86%279$78,021$317,100$325 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Sharpsburg, MD 21782 86%203$94,130$311,600$207 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Mc Clellanville, SC 29458 86%623$86,431$370,900$337 smaller · older residents
Highland, MI 48357 86%466$94,954$360,700$203 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Buxton, ME 04093 85%269$100,144$356,800$332 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Shohola, PA 18458 85%12$96,635$301,700$174 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Indian Head, MD 20640 85%226$100,593$324,600$196 larger · younger residents
Buckhead, GA 30625 85%713$88,534$389,100$192 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · newer homes
Joelton, TN 37080 85%738$87,963$333,700$232 larger
Somonauk, IL 60552 85%721$113,411$257,400$198 cheaper homes ($89K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family 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.