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 Valatie, NY 12184

Valatie: median income $98,622, home value $355,200, $276/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bristol, VT 05443 96%122$88,594$356,600$238 Very close on everything we compare
Plantsville, CT 06479 96%71$114,346$359,000$261 Very close on everything we compare
Vergennes, VT 05491 95%119$87,917$337,400$286 Very close on everything we compare
East Troy, WI 53120 95%749$96,345$336,300$260 Very close on everything we compare
Gray, ME 04039 94%196$95,125$357,500$270 Very close on everything we compare
Topsham, ME 04086 94%216$91,028$360,800$296 Very close on everything we compare
Waterford, CT 06385 94%108$100,484$365,400$302 larger
Cambridge, WI 53523 94%779$102,188$345,300$219 smaller
Southwick, MA 01077 92%53$120,462$397,500$282 pricier homes ($42K more)
Suffield, CT 06078 92%61$116,054$412,400$255 pricier homes ($57K more)
Northford, CT 06472 92%85$105,729$405,200$264 pricier homes ($50K more)
Watertown, CT 06795 92%64$104,850$365,500$244 larger
Evans City, PA 16033 92%349$108,071$333,100$200 Very close on everything we compare
Pottstown, PA 19465 92%186$107,825$404,500$233 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Elverson, PA 19520 92%192$100,088$417,200$201 pricier homes ($62K more)
Oley, PA 19547 92%179$89,948$357,900$213 smaller
Mazomanie, WI 53560 92%816$98,409$358,000$228 smaller
Madison Lake, MN 56063 92%1,018$102,391$416,300$297 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Springfield, MA 01129 91%64$97,162$256,700$232 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Westminster, MA 01473 91%90$106,331$422,000$302 pricier homes ($67K more)
West Boylston, MA 01583 91%96$106,094$441,500$312 pricier homes ($86K more)
Tiverton, RI 02878 91%139$106,036$411,900$306 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Pomfret Center, CT 06259 91%95$108,476$401,700$267 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Pawcatuck, CT 06379 91%119$95,066$406,100$286 pricier homes ($51K more)
North Branford, CT 06471 91%89$109,388$371,200$273 Very close on everything we compare

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.