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 New Paltz, NY 12561

New Paltz: median income $92,288, home value $453,500, $333/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dover, NH 03820 87%192$94,897$436,100$328 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Budd Lake, NJ 07828 83%69$103,320$457,700$325 older residents · 5 min longer commute
Maitland, FL 32751 82%994$95,387$453,700$291 older residents · more walkable
Gunnison, CO 81230 82%1,737$77,942$533,200$389 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Flagstaff, AZ 86005 82%2,066$87,942$599,900$420 pricier homes ($146K more) · newer homes
Newark, DE 19711 81%165$95,403$398,900$217 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Fort Collins, CO 80524 80%1,603$85,035$561,400$274 pricier homes ($108K more) · larger · newer homes
Nashua, NH 03063 79%150$107,630$391,400$291 cheaper homes ($62K less) · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30316 79%786$102,891$443,400$299 larger · more walkable
Atlanta, GA 30360 79%773$97,543$425,700$227 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more walkable
Jacksonville, FL 32224 79%890$88,259$458,100$265 larger · newer homes
Lisle, IL 60532 79%720$102,085$386,300$253 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Collins, CO 80526 79%1,606$88,686$551,800$273 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · more walkable
Brunswick, ME 04011 78%257$74,952$376,300$301 cheaper homes ($77K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Southern Pines, NC 28387 78%537$74,830$410,800$226 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 78%493$89,355$406,700$234 cheaper homes ($47K less) · more walkable
Newmarket, NH 03857 77%185$100,845$455,000$322 smaller · older residents
Piscataway, NJ 08854 77%85$127,806$449,900$367 higher income ($36K more) · larger
Spring City, PA 19475 77%133$97,146$399,500$236 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · older residents
Henrico, VA 23238 77%341$101,523$420,500$241 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents
Columbia, SC 29206 77%651$91,847$369,500$215 cheaper homes ($84K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30345 77%778$112,054$573,800$242 pricier homes ($120K more) · older residents · more walkable
Orlando, FL 32819 77%1,007$98,109$489,700$278 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · older residents
Nashville, TN 37216 77%777$86,701$447,800$325 more homeowners · more single-family homes · more walkable
Chattanooga, TN 37405 77%760$81,337$460,600$297 8 min shorter commute · more walkable

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.