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 Carmel, NY 10512

Carmel: median income $117,701, home value $410,500, $307/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Uxbridge, MA 01569 94%114$124,222$443,400$305 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Lunenburg, MA 01462 92%128$112,992$463,800$320 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Bethel, CT 06801 91%15$116,541$434,600$296 6 min shorter commute
West Milford, NJ 07480 91%43$132,676$379,900$292 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Raynham, MA 02767 90%140$124,105$522,400$332 pricier homes ($112K more) · smaller · newer homes
Bellingham, MA 02019 89%122$125,307$450,700$282 pricier homes ($40K more) · younger residents
Sussex, NJ 07461 89%50$106,981$370,000$262 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Washington, NJ 07882 89%83$107,567$354,900$242 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438 88%52$123,271$436,900$280 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Pepperell, MA 01463 87%137$123,911$482,100$298 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller
Norton, MA 02766 87%134$124,535$501,400$312 pricier homes ($91K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Hudson, NH 03051 87%148$124,213$438,900$298 pricier homes ($28K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Newton, NJ 07860 87%64$110,045$367,100$283 cheaper homes ($43K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Westminster, MD 21158 87%217$109,827$384,700$223 cheaper homes ($26K less) · newer homes
Bridgewater, MA 02324 86%145$112,726$533,600$318 pricier homes ($123K more) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Shelton, CT 06484 86%30$108,185$452,600$293 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Danbury, CT 06811 86%11$104,640$421,200$286 9 min shorter commute
Valencia, PA 16059 86%329$110,828$408,500$243 smaller · newer homes
Southampton, PA 18966 86%111$128,838$488,400$282 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Fort Washington, MD 20744 86%255$124,190$439,400$228 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Shirley, MA 01464 85%130$122,365$427,600$294 smaller · newer homes
Hanson, MA 02341 85%151$132,250$536,100$337 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller
Kingston, MA 02364 85%156$119,876$610,600$386 pricier homes ($200K more) · smaller
New Milford, CT 06776 85%17$104,112$387,000$275 9 min shorter commute
Perkasie, PA 18944 85%111$130,997$426,100$248 8 min shorter commute

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.