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 Gardiner, NY 12525

Gardiner: median income $110,268, home value $446,500, $336/sq ft, 41-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shirley, MA 01464 88%144$122,365$427,600$294 larger
Bloomsbury, NJ 08804 88%85$107,333$462,000$271 more homeowners
Barre, MA 01005 84%118$111,148$392,600$247 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Tall Timbers, MD 20690 83%272$122,750$379,700$296 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Montague, NJ 07827 82%39$101,444$346,200$234 cheaper homes ($100K less) · more homeowners
Townsend, MA 01469 81%144$103,801$425,800$268 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Bradley, CA 93426 81%2,524$102,500$458,400$333 smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Lake Hughes, CA 93532 81%2,431$113,363$435,300$343 younger residents · more homeowners
Amboy, WA 98601 81%2,389$106,776$515,000$277 pricier homes ($69K more) · more homeowners
Temple, NH 03084 80%143$94,107$401,000$293 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Spring Grove, VA 23881 80%343$109,531$318,800$208 cheaper homes ($128K less) · more homeowners
Sullivan, WI 53178 80%742$99,875$371,500$239 cheaper homes ($75K less) · 8 min shorter commute
El Dorado, CA 95623 80%2,444$109,102$601,800$335 pricier homes ($155K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Lunenburg, MA 01462 79%141$112,992$463,800$320 larger · more homeowners
Warner, NH 03278 79%164$94,783$356,900$257 cheaper homes ($90K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Buxton, ME 04093 79%230$100,144$356,800$332 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Ashford, CT 06278 79%105$121,875$335,500$271 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · younger residents
Schuyler, VA 22969 79%359$94,659$314,200$234 cheaper homes ($132K less) · smaller · younger residents
Greenfield, NH 03047 78%147$103,603$350,300$298 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Landing, NJ 07850 78%58$106,806$417,900$371 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · more homeowners
San Juan Bautista, CA 95045 78%2,524$110,438$896,700$410 pricier homes ($450K more) · 5 min shorter commute
East Freetown, MA 02717 77%165$130,625$520,800$336 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Harrisville, RI 02830 77%131$121,111$408,700$259 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Great Meadows, NJ 07838 77%69$121,599$440,100$265 more homeowners
Frenchtown, NJ 08825 77%91$101,774$451,500$326 larger · 10 min shorter commute · 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.