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 Edison, NJ 08820

Edison: median income $171,363, home value $630,200, $391/sq ft, 42-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Canton, MA 02021 87%200$143,381$710,600$425 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller
Derwood, MD 20855 84%178$149,110$640,300$297 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22310 83%192$166,061$659,700$355 pricier homes ($30K more) · 10 min shorter commute
Walpole, MA 02081 80%194$156,250$687,500$396 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Burke, VA 22015 78%199$172,563$696,500$346 pricier homes ($66K more) · 11 min shorter commute
Blue Bell, PA 19422 77%57$158,288$611,900$274 smaller · 12 min shorter commute
Olney, MD 20832 77%174$168,524$627,000$290 smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Springfield, VA 22153 76%199$174,228$693,600$344 pricier homes ($63K more) · 11 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Acton, MA 01720 75%200$159,010$814,300$385 pricier homes ($184K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 74%181$139,302$592,300$353 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($38K less) · 11 min shorter commute
Ashland, MA 01721 74%190$127,539$611,700$353 lower income ($44K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Franklin, MA 02038 74%186$145,773$611,700$343 lower income ($26K less) · 10 min shorter commute · less walkable
Mount Kisco, NY 10549 74%54$133,988$668,000$425 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Newtown, PA 18940 74%38$157,414$655,000$316 10 min shorter commute · less walkable
North Andover, MA 01845 73%222$140,670$732,900$367 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($103K more) · 11 min shorter commute
Springfield, VA 22152 73%197$165,906$648,200$327 11 min shorter commute
Hingham, MA 02043 72%213$178,390$1,134,200$550 pricier homes ($504K more) · smaller · older residents
Melville, NY 11747 71%52$159,540$757,800$486 pricier homes ($128K more) · smaller · older residents
Naperville, IL 60540 71%721$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($80K less) · 14 min shorter commute
Natick, MA 01760 70%195$138,563$821,300$454 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($191K more) · 12 min shorter commute
Andover, MA 01810 70%219$172,606$855,600$412 pricier homes ($225K more) · 13 min shorter commute
Croton On Hudson, NY 10520 70%50$142,791$702,200$444 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 70%58$173,573$617,900$417 more homeowners · more single-family homes · less walkable
Naperville, IL 60564 70%723$181,382$572,100$263 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Hopkinton, MA 01748 68%185$222,801$802,700$357 higher income ($51K more) · pricier homes ($173K more) · smaller

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.