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 Pawling, NY 12564

Pawling: median income $111,324, home value $446,800, $266/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Woodbury, CT 06798 92%20$131,480$469,900$250 Very close on everything we compare
Wanaque, NJ 07465 92%51$115,159$419,700$281 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Lunenburg, MA 01462 90%119$112,992$463,800$320 larger · younger residents
Harrisville, RI 02830 90%104$121,111$408,700$259 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Wilton, NH 03086 90%128$113,750$381,600$284 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Barre, MA 01005 89%96$111,148$392,600$247 cheaper homes ($54K less) · younger residents
Kingston, NH 03848 89%159$105,330$492,900$317 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
North Grafton, MA 01536 88%107$115,938$470,800$310 younger residents
Merrimac, MA 01860 88%159$123,054$553,400$329 pricier homes ($107K more)
Hampstead, NH 03841 88%153$104,044$510,100$307 pricier homes ($63K more) · newer homes
Washington, NJ 07882 88%92$107,567$354,900$242 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · younger residents
Glen Gardner, NJ 08826 88%91$123,750$451,700$256 Very close on everything we compare
Valencia, PA 16059 88%335$110,828$408,500$243 cheaper homes ($38K less) · newer homes
Chester, MD 21619 88%230$107,639$486,600$297 pricier homes ($40K more) · newer homes
Shirley, MA 01464 87%121$122,365$427,600$294 younger residents · newer homes
Uxbridge, MA 01569 87%107$124,222$443,400$305 larger · younger residents
Beacon Falls, CT 06403 87%29$101,516$350,300$279 cheaper homes ($97K less) · newer homes
Lafayette, NJ 07848 87%67$128,317$436,800$288 smaller
Frenchtown, NJ 08825 87%104$101,774$451,500$326 smaller · younger residents
Southwick, MA 01077 86%54$120,462$397,500$282 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Blackstone, MA 01504 86%111$94,191$404,400$286 cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents
Sterling, MA 01564 86%111$129,063$498,800$327 pricier homes ($52K more)
Tiverton, RI 02878 86%125$106,036$411,900$306 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Warner, NH 03278 86%149$94,783$356,900$257 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · younger residents
Bethel, CT 06801 86%17$116,541$434,600$296 larger · younger residents

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.