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 Patchogue, NY 11772

Patchogue: median income $105,245, home value $474,800, $400/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dracut, MA 01826 93%158$114,196$473,800$353 Very close on everything we compare
Methuen, MA 01844 91%165$113,212$499,800$341 pricier homes ($25K more)
Attleboro, MA 02703 91%119$99,152$448,800$316 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Salem, NH 03079 91%167$110,490$473,300$340 Very close on everything we compare
Lakewood, WA 98498 91%2,462$91,664$506,300$324 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Middleboro, MA 02346 89%134$97,056$468,700$299 smaller
Shelton, CT 06484 89%38$108,185$452,600$293 Very close on everything we compare
Old Bridge, NJ 08857 89%74$109,312$486,600$372 5 min longer commute
Orangevale, CA 95662 89%2,535$96,689$558,300$352 pricier homes ($84K more)
Stoughton, MA 02072 88%136$104,794$523,800$335 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Abington, MA 02351 88%141$125,400$539,600$350 pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller
Rockland, MA 02370 88%143$112,405$472,900$353 smaller
North Attleboro, MA 02760 88%120$112,027$478,700$330 smaller
Puyallup, WA 98371 88%2,451$97,242$556,800$323 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller · newer homes
Hudson, MA 01749 87%135$103,400$496,800$357 smaller
Bridgewater, MA 02324 87%134$112,726$533,600$318 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller · newer homes
Randolph, MA 02368 87%140$109,665$496,800$346 6 min longer commute · more walkable
North Dartmouth, MA 02747 87%120$102,079$484,800$309 smaller
Derry, NH 03038 87%171$108,322$430,500$315 cheaper homes ($44K less) · newer homes
Brick, NJ 08724 87%75$103,127$411,000$352 cheaper homes ($64K less) · more homeowners
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 87%1,094$93,603$495,000$298 more walkable
Yucaipa, CA 92399 87%2,437$92,440$511,200$334 pricier homes ($36K more)
Millbury, MA 01527 86%118$118,790$450,100$285 smaller
Saugus, MA 01906 86%156$101,539$603,400$393 pricier homes ($129K more) · smaller · more walkable
Danbury, CT 06811 86%52$104,640$421,200$286 cheaper homes ($54K less)

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.