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 Hillsborough, NJ 08844

Hillsborough: median income $153,556, home value $547,700, $340/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Franklin, MA 02038 96%201$145,773$611,700$343 pricier homes ($64K more)
Newtown, PA 18940 93%23$157,414$655,000$316 pricier homes ($107K more) · smaller
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 91%196$139,302$592,300$353 pricier homes ($45K more)
Ashland, MA 01721 90%205$127,539$611,700$353 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
Mansfield, MA 02048 87%207$125,273$603,500$353 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Downingtown, PA 19335 87%66$143,249$494,100$234 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Northborough, MA 01532 86%200$153,199$620,000$331 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Walpole, MA 02081 86%210$156,250$687,500$396 pricier homes ($140K more) · smaller
Morrisville, PA 19067 86%21$133,630$507,900$287 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Harleysville, PA 19438 86%43$138,134$480,300$246 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Canton, MA 02021 85%215$143,381$710,600$425 pricier homes ($163K more) · smaller · more walkable
Chalfont, PA 18914 85%34$148,824$491,300$272 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Crofton, MD 21114 85%149$141,344$490,400$260 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · younger residents
Naperville, IL 60540 85%708$157,102$550,600$292 more walkable
North Andover, MA 01845 84%237$140,670$732,900$367 pricier homes ($185K more) · more walkable
Ambler, PA 19002 84%37$143,600$602,100$292 pricier homes ($54K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more walkable
Sterling, VA 20165 84%177$183,076$704,800$295 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($157K more)
Derwood, MD 20855 84%163$149,110$640,300$297 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller · more walkable
Annapolis, MD 21409 84%138$147,151$535,500$286 smaller · more single-family homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328 84%1,047$126,380$578,300$357 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Londonderry, NH 03053 83%235$134,038$507,600$308 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Schwenksville, PA 19473 83%47$138,819$476,300$248 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Arnold, MD 21012 83%140$139,432$563,800$270 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22310 83%177$166,061$659,700$355 pricier homes ($112K more) · smaller · more walkable
Roswell, GA 30075 83%696$157,335$611,500$244 pricier homes ($64K more) · 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.