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 South Salem, NY 10590

South Salem: median income $211,734, home value $795,600, $409/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Towaco, NJ 07082 97%48$205,023$702,900$410 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Boxford, MA 01921 95%163$200,672$904,200$357 pricier homes ($109K more)
Easton, CT 06612 95%13$222,604$783,100$323 Very close on everything we compare
Redding, CT 06896 93%8$186,060$706,300$335 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($89K less)
Harvard, MA 01451 92%133$214,792$856,200$349 pricier homes ($61K more) · younger residents
Colts Neck, NJ 07722 92%74$198,994$917,200$474 pricier homes ($122K more)
Chester, NJ 07930 92%67$240,954$771,200$361 higher income ($29K more)
Millington, NJ 07946 92%65$208,587$801,700$417 smaller
Califon, NJ 07830 91%76$180,852$656,400$297 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($139K less)
West Newbury, MA 01985 90%169$179,500$808,200$387 lower income ($32K less) · smaller
Stow, MA 01775 89%132$185,809$729,600$339 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($66K less)
Duxbury, MA 02332 89%156$176,583$874,600$459 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Harrington Park, NJ 07640 89%29$180,500$776,900$433 lower income ($31K less)
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677 89%31$213,981$946,400$468 pricier homes ($151K more)
Topsfield, MA 01983 88%164$195,718$853,400$402 pricier homes ($58K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Warren, NJ 07059 88%66$212,479$921,500$440 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger · newer homes
Kendall Park, NJ 08824 88%78$174,776$628,000$360 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($168K less) · larger
Brookeville, MD 20833 88%234$204,375$797,100$284 Very close on everything we compare
Southborough, MA 01772 87%126$201,568$841,700$354 pricier homes ($46K more) · more walkable
Medfield, MA 02052 87%132$235,800$911,100$416 pricier homes ($116K more) · larger · younger residents
Norwell, MA 02061 87%154$188,699$865,700$425 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · younger residents
Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 87%62$202,944$785,300$504 larger · more walkable
Sherborn, MA 01770 86%130$250,000+*$1,026,800$411 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($231K more) · smaller
Wayland, MA 01778 86%135$219,375$977,300$443 pricier homes ($182K more) · larger
Wilton, CT 06897 86%6$242,199$928,800$449 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($133K more) · larger

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or 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.