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 Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Bridgewater: median income $168,696, home value $591,200, $369/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Franklin, MA 02038 95%197$145,773$611,700$343 Very close on everything we compare
Walpole, MA 02081 92%205$156,250$687,500$396 pricier homes ($96K more) · smaller
Newtown, PA 18940 92%28$157,414$655,000$316 pricier homes ($64K more)
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 91%191$139,302$592,300$353 lower income ($29K less)
Northborough, MA 01532 90%195$153,199$620,000$331 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Annapolis, MD 21409 90%144$147,151$535,500$286 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Springfield, VA 22153 90%188$174,228$693,600$344 pricier homes ($102K more)
Chalfont, PA 18914 89%37$148,824$491,300$272 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller
North Reading, MA 01864 88%229$147,768$710,500$425 pricier homes ($119K more) · smaller
Medway, MA 02053 88%198$173,750$617,300$337 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Chantilly, VA 20151 88%190$158,271$676,800$317 pricier homes ($86K more) · smaller · more walkable
Barrington, IL 60010 88%708$177,566$638,100$255 pricier homes ($47K more)
Naperville, IL 60540 88%707$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Naperville, IL 60565 88%706$164,447$519,900$267 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Chelmsford, MA 01824 87%218$140,050$619,700$384 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($29K more) · older homes
Arnold, MD 21012 87%146$139,432$563,800$270 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Roswell, GA 30075 87%701$157,335$611,500$244 Very close on everything we compare
Wilmington, MA 01887 86%224$168,152$680,500$422 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Wrentham, MA 02093 86%199$151,676$654,900$355 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
Hanover, MA 02339 86%222$189,803$755,400$385 pricier homes ($164K more) · smaller
Bedford, NH 03110 86%228$167,418$612,100$302 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Brookfield, CT 06804 86%88$148,945$480,200$283 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller
Ambler, PA 19002 86%42$143,600$602,100$292 lower income ($25K less)
Olney, MD 20832 86%163$168,524$627,000$290 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · more walkable
Ellicott City, MD 21042 86%149$190,061$706,400$274 pricier homes ($115K more)

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.