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 Smithtown, NY 11787

Smithtown: median income $143,101, home value $679,800, $424/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marshfield, MA 02050 95%156$126,241$679,700$424 Very close on everything we compare
Middletown, NJ 07748 94%57$152,981$600,600$413 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Pembroke, MA 02359 91%150$146,285$586,500$392 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
North Reading, MA 01864 90%162$147,768$710,500$425 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Wilmington, MA 01887 90%158$168,152$680,500$422 higher income ($25K more) · newer homes
Framingham, MA 01701 89%136$137,094$644,300$395 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Chelmsford, MA 01824 89%154$140,050$619,700$384 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Trumbull, CT 06611 89%28$163,073$547,300$317 cheaper homes ($133K less)
Upland, CA 91784 89%2,453$154,349$891,600$435 pricier homes ($212K more) · newer homes
Littleton, MA 01460 87%147$149,722$658,300$374 smaller
Holliston, MA 01746 87%131$159,817$650,300$360 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Butler, NJ 07405 87%64$135,169$569,800$342 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller
Denville, NJ 07834 87%66$156,902$555,600$418 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller
Newtown, CT 06470 86%38$153,238$577,800$289 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
Southampton, PA 18966 85%105$128,838$488,400$282 cheaper homes ($191K less)
Morrison, CO 80465 85%1,679$132,292$685,300$312 smaller · newer homes
Billerica, MA 01821 84%155$149,042$615,100$382 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Georgetown, MA 01833 84%173$153,750$653,500$360 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Scituate, MA 02066 84%158$136,689$850,800$522 pricier homes ($171K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Oakland, NJ 07436 84%55$161,971$591,000$390 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · younger residents
Rockville, MD 20853 84%239$159,080$631,900$302 cheaper homes ($48K less) · more walkable
Wrentham, MA 02093 83%128$151,676$654,900$355 smaller · newer homes
North Easton, MA 02356 83%137$127,224$650,300$348 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Kingston, MA 02364 83%150$119,876$610,600$386 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · newer homes
Seekonk, MA 02771 83%119$120,613$482,800$314 cheaper homes ($197K less) · smaller

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.