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 Island Heights, NJ 08732

Island Heights: median income $110,000, home value $561,200, $390/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
South Chatham, MA 02659 79%247$109,453$777,000$641 pricier homes ($216K more) · older residents
Housatonic, MA 01236 77%165$111,250$504,900$332 cheaper homes ($56K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Falls Village, CT 06031 76%145$106,875$464,500$353 cheaper homes ($97K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Haydenville, MA 01039 75%184$116,429$423,100$403 cheaper homes ($138K less) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Sagamore Beach, MA 02562 75%229$120,000$591,000$498 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · newer homes
Somerset, MA 02725 75%198$129,253$417,300$384 cheaper homes ($144K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
New Preston Marble Dale, CT 06777 75%128$94,643$455,700$390 cheaper homes ($106K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Pownal, ME 04069 73%340$104,333$436,800$355 cheaper homes ($124K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Old Lyme, CT 06371 73%136$132,045$499,400$372 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · newer homes
Old Saybrook, CT 06475 73%131$114,333$538,200$434 larger · newer homes
West Stockbridge, MA 01266 72%170$100,417$563,400$359 smaller · less walkable · newer homes
Marion, MA 02738 72%215$143,092$653,500$368 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($92K more) · larger
Mattapoisett, MA 02739 72%211$130,241$681,600$430 pricier homes ($120K more) · larger · newer homes
Canaan, NY 12029 72%175$103,542$421,500$319 cheaper homes ($140K less) · more renters · less walkable
Litchfield, CT 06759 71%135$105,957$448,900$277 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · more renters
Circleville, NY 10919 71%110$108,859$437,600$238 cheaper homes ($124K less) · less walkable
Medinah, IL 60157 71%738$136,434$532,200$233 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Pocasset, MA 02559 70%221$90,855$625,400$413 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · older residents
Middlefield, CT 06455 70%132$104,180$388,700$274 cheaper homes ($173K less) · larger · less walkable
Mattituck, NY 11952 70%112$120,139$764,300$531 pricier homes ($203K more) · larger · less walkable
Pine Plains, NY 12567 70%144$103,750$348,500$339 cheaper homes ($213K less) · larger · less walkable
Old Forge, NY 13420 70%265$109,351$355,200$470 cheaper homes ($206K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Cascade, CO 80809 70%1,639$93,750$480,600$344 cheaper homes ($81K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Barnstable, MA 02630 69%235$116,895$721,500$549 pricier homes ($160K more) · larger · less walkable
Woodstock, VT 05091 69%268$112,396$572,200$327 larger · 5 min shorter commute · 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.