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 Whippany, NJ 07981

Whippany: median income $149,893, home value $614,100, $444/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rowley, MA 01969 90%223$132,734$667,300$375 pricier homes ($53K more)
Congers, NY 10920 90%34$145,567$582,800$375 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Saint James, NY 11780 90%66$144,577$723,200$466 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Millis, MA 02054 89%184$155,996$603,500$369 6 min longer commute
East Greenwich, RI 02818 87%163$139,217$613,500$342 larger
North Hampton, NH 03862 87%237$144,583$670,400$496 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Valley Cottage, NY 10989 87%32$134,267$549,700$390 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 8 min longer commute
Burlington, MA 01803 86%203$146,436$740,600$441 pricier homes ($127K more) · larger · more renters
Portsmouth, RI 02871 86%173$116,831$597,000$392 lower income ($33K less) · larger
Sayville, NY 11782 86%70$147,672$637,300$507 larger · younger residents
North Easton, MA 02356 85%191$127,224$650,300$348 pricier homes ($36K more) · 5 min longer commute
Oakdale, NY 11769 85%68$123,558$607,000$389 lower income ($26K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85028 85%2,111$125,054$642,200$365 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Mystic, CT 06355 84%133$137,425$453,400$305 cheaper homes ($161K less)
Chelmsford, MA 01824 83%200$140,050$619,700$384 larger · younger residents
Greenland, NH 03840 83%239$162,837$662,800$390 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · newer homes
Stonington, CT 06378 83%136$135,714$593,400$407 smaller · older residents
Milford, CT 06461 83%76$133,221$424,700$299 cheaper homes ($189K less) · larger · younger residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33330 83%1,074$145,212$755,800$424 pricier homes ($142K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Wrentham, MA 02093 82%181$151,676$654,900$355 pricier homes ($41K more) · 7 min longer commute · less walkable
Hauppauge, NY 11788 82%64$149,726$653,900$414 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · younger residents
Fort Washington, PA 19034 82%63$165,354$627,500$292 younger residents
Littleton, CO 80121 82%1,605$142,056$707,900$311 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Boylston, MA 01505 81%174$140,962$578,600$343 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Ipswich, MA 01938 81%224$138,750$745,400$421 pricier homes ($131K more) · larger · more renters

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.