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.

Reset

Towns most like Port Jefferson, NY 11777

Port Jefferson: median income $150,505, home value $680,200, $382/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Northborough, MA 01532 92%120$153,199$620,000$331 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Walpole, MA 02081 92%125$156,250$687,500$396 larger
Ramsey, NJ 07446 92%57$160,996$697,300$450 larger
Roseland, NJ 07068 91%66$164,458$665,700$419 Very close on everything we compare
Ipswich, MA 01938 90%165$138,750$745,400$421 pricier homes ($65K more)
Millis, MA 02054 90%122$155,996$603,500$369 cheaper homes ($77K less)
East Greenwich, RI 02818 90%96$139,217$613,500$342 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 90%769$134,724$599,900$331 cheaper homes ($80K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Littleton, MA 01460 89%137$149,722$658,300$374 Very close on everything we compare
Maynard, MA 01754 89%132$124,067$527,400$328 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($153K less)
North Easton, MA 02356 89%127$127,224$650,300$348 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 89%75$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Acton, MA 01720 88%134$159,010$814,300$385 pricier homes ($134K more) · larger
Holliston, MA 01746 88%121$159,817$650,300$360 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · more homeowners
North Reading, MA 01864 88%152$147,768$710,500$425 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Watchung, NJ 07069 88%76$171,705$883,300$405 pricier homes ($203K more)
Randolph, NJ 07869 88%79$169,497$665,700$351 larger · younger residents
Grafton, MA 01519 87%112$178,263$631,600$320 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($49K less) · newer homes
Burlington, MA 01803 87%144$146,436$740,600$441 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Rowley, MA 01969 87%165$132,734$667,300$375 smaller · older residents
Westwood, NJ 07675 87%49$183,154$719,400$453 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Fort Washington, PA 19034 87%125$165,354$627,500$292 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Framingham, MA 01701 86%126$137,094$644,300$395 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Georgetown, MA 01833 86%163$153,750$653,500$360 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Reading, MA 01867 86%149$165,912$809,000$473 pricier homes ($129K more) · larger · older 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.