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 Waterford, NY 12188

Waterford: median income $92,279, home value $281,400, $228/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Agawam, MA 01001 93%75$75,342$295,700$249 Very close on everything we compare
Tilton, NH 03276 92%116$82,425$272,700$250 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomfield, CT 06002 92%84$98,162$286,400$212 larger
Plainville, CT 06062 92%89$84,310$253,900$247 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Thomaston, CT 06787 91%84$103,102$282,900$239 younger residents
Barre, VT 05641 90%113$76,855$253,200$203 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Somerdale, NJ 08083 90%217$96,653$272,700$249 more single-family homes
Boyertown, PA 19512 90%199$79,885$274,200$208 6 min longer commute
Williamsport, MD 21795 90%308$87,864$295,800$180 younger residents
Wood Dale, IL 60191 90%730$91,333$322,200$216 pricier homes ($41K more)
Feeding Hills, MA 01030 89%73$93,815$327,700$248 pricier homes ($46K more) · more single-family homes
Newport, NH 03773 89%85$81,232$239,300$213 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 89%81$81,205$258,800$226 more walkable
East Greenville, PA 18041 89%190$98,615$317,700$217 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Hellertown, PA 18055 89%175$90,234$324,000$222 pricier homes ($43K more) · more walkable
Port Washington, WI 53074 89%716$79,423$296,600$233 younger residents
Ludlow, MA 01056 88%77$84,838$335,300$251 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Stafford Springs, CT 06076 88%93$92,016$267,300$219 Very close on everything we compare
Oakville, CT 06779 88%90$95,798$277,000$256 more walkable
Northampton, PA 18067 88%172$93,652$282,200$197 larger
Clear Lake, IA 50428 88%993$81,037$283,400$232 Very close on everything we compare
West Bend, WI 53095 88%731$80,830$305,400$207 larger · newer homes
Swanzey, NH 03446 87%69$85,484$262,100$228 smaller · newer homes
Gardiner, ME 04345 87%219$77,410$242,800$258 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Uncasville, CT 06382 87%124$89,635$267,800$257 more single-family 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.