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 Dayton, NJ 08810

Dayton: median income $151,902, home value $496,600, $361/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newtown, PA 18940 83%25$157,414$655,000$316 pricier homes ($158K more) · larger
Crofton, MD 21114 83%149$141,344$490,400$260 larger · younger residents
Woodstock, MD 21163 82%143$134,672$602,800$254 pricier homes ($106K more) · newer homes
Ashland, MA 01721 81%204$127,539$611,700$353 pricier homes ($115K more) · larger · more renters
Blue Bell, PA 19422 78%43$158,288$611,900$274 pricier homes ($115K more) · larger · more walkable
Alexandria, VA 22310 78%178$166,061$659,700$355 pricier homes ($163K more) · larger · more walkable
Boxborough, MA 01719 77%213$144,611$706,900$327 pricier homes ($210K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Canton, MA 02021 77%214$143,381$710,600$425 pricier homes ($214K more) · larger · more renters
Derwood, MD 20855 77%164$149,110$640,300$297 pricier homes ($144K more) · larger · more renters
Springfield, VA 22152 77%183$165,906$648,200$327 pricier homes ($152K more) · larger · more walkable
South Easton, MA 02375 76%211$120,903$513,000$348 lower income ($31K less)
Franklin, MA 02038 75%200$145,773$611,700$343 pricier homes ($115K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Walpole, MA 02081 75%208$156,250$687,500$396 pricier homes ($191K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Valley Cottage, NY 10989 75%59$134,267$549,700$390 pricier homes ($53K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Aurora, IL 60502 75%722$156,904$412,300$225 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Colmar, PA 18915 74%40$141,696$534,300$300 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · newer homes
Springfield, VA 22153 74%184$174,228$693,600$344 pricier homes ($197K more) · larger · more walkable
Melville, NY 11747 73%65$159,540$757,800$486 pricier homes ($261K more) · larger · older residents
Mars, PA 16046 73%291$151,560$481,300$212 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Sterling, VA 20165 73%179$183,076$704,800$295 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($208K more) · larger
Olney, MD 20832 73%160$168,524$627,000$290 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Northborough, MA 01532 72%200$153,199$620,000$331 pricier homes ($123K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 72%85$150,505$680,200$382 pricier homes ($184K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Chadds Ford, PA 19317 72%67$174,408$624,900$245 pricier homes ($128K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Dumfries, VA 22025 72%195$150,306$528,600$236 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · 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.