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 Valley Cottage, NY 10989

Valley Cottage: median income $134,267, home value $549,700, $390/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Millis, MA 02054 94%152$155,996$603,500$369 pricier homes ($54K more)
Rowley, MA 01969 91%191$132,734$667,300$375 pricier homes ($118K more)
North Easton, MA 02356 91%160$127,224$650,300$348 pricier homes ($101K more)
South Easton, MA 02375 91%160$120,903$513,000$348 cheaper homes ($37K less)
North Reading, MA 01864 90%178$147,768$710,500$425 pricier homes ($161K more) · larger
Maynard, MA 01754 89%157$124,067$527,400$328 more renters
Wrentham, MA 02093 88%149$151,676$654,900$355 pricier homes ($105K more) · newer homes
Littleton, MA 01460 87%160$149,722$658,300$374 pricier homes ($109K more) · more single-family homes
Northborough, MA 01532 87%145$153,199$620,000$331 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Butler, NJ 07405 87%26$135,169$569,800$342 larger · younger residents
Oceanport, NJ 07757 87%56$126,094$757,700$524 pricier homes ($208K more)
Whippany, NJ 07981 87%32$149,893$614,100$444 pricier homes ($64K more) · 8 min shorter commute
North Grafton, MA 01536 86%139$115,938$470,800$310 cheaper homes ($79K less) · more renters
Holliston, MA 01746 86%150$159,817$650,300$360 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($101K more) · larger
Georgetown, MA 01833 86%189$153,750$653,500$360 pricier homes ($104K more) · more single-family homes
Lambertville, NJ 08530 86%73$120,467$574,800$392 pricier homes ($25K more) · older residents
Annapolis, MD 21409 86%195$147,151$535,500$286 larger
Lancaster, MA 01523 85%148$134,833$519,100$288 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more single-family homes
Chelmsford, MA 01824 85%168$140,050$619,700$384 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · younger residents
Ipswich, MA 01938 85%192$138,750$745,400$421 pricier homes ($196K more) · larger · more renters
Walpole, MA 02081 85%156$156,250$687,500$396 pricier homes ($138K more) · larger
Kingston, MA 02364 85%176$119,876$610,600$386 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Brookfield, CT 06804 85%37$148,945$480,200$283 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 85%21$117,959$539,000$431 older residents
Rockaway, NJ 07866 85%32$131,403$457,400$329 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger

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.