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 Stirling, NJ 07980

Stirling: median income $162,955, home value $689,200, $446/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Essex, MA 01929 86%234$156,442$902,000$416 pricier homes ($213K more) · older residents
Grafton, MA 01519 81%180$178,263$631,600$320 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Madbury, NH 03823 80%251$148,365$476,900$295 cheaper homes ($212K less)
Bayport, NY 11705 80%76$164,300$646,500$426 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · older residents
Fort Washington, PA 19034 80%53$165,354$627,500$292 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · older residents
Topsfield, MA 01983 79%228$195,718$853,400$402 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($164K more) · larger
Medway, MA 02053 79%189$173,750$617,300$337 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Stratham, NH 03885 79%246$151,998$655,400$349 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · more homeowners
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 79%77$150,505$680,200$382 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Long Lake, MN 55356 79%1,009$156,622$707,800$295 larger · older residents
Littleton, MA 01460 77%202$149,722$658,300$374 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · older residents
Georgetown, MA 01833 77%230$153,750$653,500$360 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · older residents
Cumberland Center, ME 04021 77%305$172,468$579,000$388 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger · more homeowners
Orangeburg, NY 10962 76%38$148,500$712,300$403 larger · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Wenham, MA 01984 75%229$194,781$885,400$436 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($196K more) · larger
Saunderstown, RI 02874 75%169$159,861$713,700$396 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Salisbury, CT 06068 75%107$123,552$842,200$461 lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($153K more) · older residents
Congers, NY 10920 75%44$145,567$582,800$375 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · older residents
East Norwich, NY 11732 75%52$148,965$780,800$545 pricier homes ($92K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Oyster Bay, NY 11771 75%52$157,923$936,300$484 pricier homes ($247K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Old Bethpage, NY 11804 75%55$190,469$848,500$534 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($159K more) · larger
Boylston, MA 01505 74%183$140,962$578,600$343 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · older residents
East Walpole, MA 02032 74%198$180,682$702,300$365 larger · more walkable · older homes
Millis, MA 02054 74%192$155,996$603,500$369 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · older residents
Hanover, MA 02339 74%213$189,803$755,400$385 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($66K 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.